Note: This is a work of fiction! Although the areas this story takes place in are real; all of the landscapes depicted, the people described, and everything else this story uses to make it enjoyable reading for you are NOT REAL. As you read this story try to remember:
THIS IS A NOVEL!
118. A Shot In The Dark
The operating room was massive. The walls were lined with inch thick lead and there were signs and lights on the outside that warned people not to enter without the appropriate protective garments. The stadium seating 15 feet above the operating theater was filled with doctors, students, and medical professionals from the FDA waiting to see this new procedure. The machines were massive and connected to 30-ton air-conditioners to keep them cool.
Patricia was the smallest item in the room. He was covered from her throat to her toes with a lead blanket. She was strapped down so she could not move a muscle. Her head was in a mesh helmet that was strapped to the table and each grid numbered. The table had a cooling system to keep her from overheating. She had not been put to sleep yet, because her doctors were still studying the positioning of the machines. Micro millimeters could mean all the difference between success and failure.
The Chief Neurosurgeon, Doctor Melvin Coren walked around the machines and with a grave look on his face. "Patty, we are ready. It will not take us more 2 minutes to do this procedure. We are going to put you into a very light sleep. The only reason for putting you to sleep is the noise the machine makes when we turn it on. It is deafening and we wear noise protectors to cover our ears. We are going to do our best for you, and when you wake up, we will be able to tell you the results. You will know right away if we got it all."
Doctor Nall walked over to her and looked into her eyes. "Patty, remember what I told you. Regardless of what happens here, when you wake up, you will still be Patricia Parent Valentino. No one else will emerge."
"Joyce, I'm frightened."
"Patty, if you weren't frightened, you wouldn't be human. Good night baby, you'll feel a burning in your hand in a second, they just gave you the sedative. Count back from 10."
"10, 9, 8, 7, 6..."
"She is under Doctor Coren."
"Bring the blowers to full; ear protectors on; turn on the machines."
"Doctor Mizell, clamp the patient's head at 31.73Β° left, and 16.24Β° down. Mark the spots and take an x-ray."
"Everyone stepped back, x-ray is complete; film in 1 minute."
After looking at the x-ray Doctor Coren said, "Turn her head .13 degrees up, .02 degrees left."
"Patient's head is now at 31.86 degrees left, 16.26 degrees down"
"Take an x-ray and verify position."
One moment later, "Position is verified. We are on target."
"Take an MRI and verify the machines position."
Patty was already in the tunnel so she did not have to be moved. The noise was deafening, but she had the yellow sponge earplugs in to lessen the noise.
"The machine is on target with the revisions, Doctor."
"Young lady, billions of dollars of research is riding on you. Please help us."
"Machines to 99%, everyone get behind the shields and report."
"Power and backup power is nominal."
"X-ray is ready."
"MRI is ready."
Doctor Coren said, "Bring the lights to minimum."
"Power output to maximum."
"On my mark, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, execute."
To anyone in the outside world it looked like nothing was happening. Everyone in the operating theater, and stadium seating knew otherwise. 15 seconds passed, 20 seconds, 30 seconds, 35 seconds, 40 seconds, and the machines powered down automatically.
Doctor Coren said calmly, "X-ray, Mri, Bring her up, change her gown, and give her some juice."
Moments later; "Where are those films."
"X-ray is coming out of the machine now Doctor. MRI will be a few more moments."
Doctor Coren put the x-ray on the lighted glass panel, and studied it under a large magnifying glass. "Dammit, we didn't get it all people. We did well; but we did not get it all. Scott, measure it for me against the original and tell me how much is left. Would you want to take a look at this Doctor Nall?"
"You bet Doctor, she is my patient. I want to tell her if she lives or dies."
She looked at the x-ray and marveled at the change.
"12% remaining Doctor Coren"
"Doctor Coren, what are you complaining about? You took that tumor from the size of a grain of rice down to the size of a couple of grains of sand. Chemotherapy will kill those in 6 months to a year. Your machines are a medical marvel, congratulations. This girl will live a full and happy life thanks to you and your team."
"Thank you Doctor Nall; will you put that in writing for the FDA. They have been down our throats for the past 4 months about funding this operation."
"They are out of their mind Doctor. This is the future of medicine. No longer will we have to damage brain cells to kill tumors. Do you think it will work on other cancers as well?"
"Joyce, we have to walk before we can run. We have to get this approved for brain surgery first. Then we will look all the other types of malignancy that plagues our world."
"Doctor Coren, she's coming around."
Patty's eyes blinked open, and when she was able to focus she saw Doctor Nall smiling.
"Patty, it worked. They got about 88% of it. The rest we can get with chemotherapy. It will take 6 months to a year, but you will be cured. You will live that long and happy life you wanted with Stephano, and your girls. Congratulations, I am so happy for you."
Patty smiled and tried to speak but couldn't. She grabbed her throat as if it was sore. Doctor Nall asked for some juice. Patty drank it rapidly. She tried to speak. She couldn't.
Doctor Nall turned and called Doctor Coren.
"Doctor, we have a problem. She can't speak."
The entire operating room staff ran back towards her.
Patty was becoming very agitated when Doctor Coren said to her, "Patty, we don't know what went wrong, but we will find out. Don't make me sedate you. It will be easier to find the problem with you awake. Help me, so I can help you."
She settled down, and nodded her head.
Doctor Coren asked, "Patty can you use a computer?"
Patty looked at him as if he was crazy.
Doctor Nall intervened. "Doctor, the president declared her a national treasure because of her skills with a computer."