I work as a cardiologist in a large hospital in Chicago. It's a busy job, and it occupies much of my time. I start early, and most days I finish around 5 pm. Every 3 weekends, I am on-call too.
One of those weekends, I was less busy and went to the emergency room to talk to my colleague. Suddenly, I saw a nurse rushing in my direction, "Dr. Gordon, can you please help us? A patient has arrived unconscious in the ambulance. We urgently need a physician, and the emergency room doctor just went to the bathroom."
"Of course. Show me the way."
We hurried to the bedside. The woman wore a robe, and her hair was disheveled, covering her face. The nurse attached EKG electrodes as I listened to her heart. The EKG showed VF - A fatal arrhythmia unless treated promptly. Within seconds, I operated the cardioverter, successfully restoring her normal rhythm. She was still unresponsive, and it was clear she needed more than restoring her rhythm. Her breathing returned to normal within a couple of minutes, and now we had time to check on the cause of her collapse. I ordered the usual laboratory tests and an echocardiogram. The heart ultrasound showed a large area of the main ventricle not working properly. The differential diagnosis was either a large heart attack or a stress-induced cardiac abnormality. I performed cardiac catheterization an hour later. It demonstrated normal coronary arteries. It was a relief. The newly described stress induced syndrome may be dangerous and even lethal, but most times, the outcome is excellent, unlike a heart attack.
I transferred the patient to the intensive care unit, and returned back to my department. An hour later, she again had a dangerous rhythm. I was called to resuscitate her, and her normal rhythm was restored. Overnight she became more stable, and I wasn't called again about her.
The next morning, I came to visit her. She was reading US magazine, and her face was hidden behind the paper. I introduced myself, "Good morning, ma'am. My name is Dr. Gordon. You seem to be feeling better. Can we talk, please?"
She put aside the magazine, and I saw Ms. Mary Jones's smiling face.
I was stunned. I saw her name on the chart the night before, but she had a common name, and I was too busy to recognize my favorite teacher in college.
She laughed, "Eli... sorry, Dr. Gordon, it's nice to see you again after such a long time. I heard from the nurse, you saved my life not once, but twice. Thank you. I feel much better today."
I checked her folder and examined her. Everything suggested she was well on her way to a full recovery.
I grinned, "Ms. Jones, I am happy that everything progresses as expected. We'll keep you here for one more day, and if there are no complications, move you from the intensive care unit to another department for three more days. Assuming your healing continues on the same trajectory, we'll send you back home soon.
"Thank you again, doctor."
...
I returned to my office, and reminiscences of my years in college came back to me like it was yesterday.
Ms. Jones taught our class Human Anatomy. Every male student fell in love with her in the first year. She was young with a pretty face and a fantastic figure. Ms. Jones was smiley, engaging, and patient with us. I sat in the front row, and was hooked within days. Despite wearing loose blouses, her huge breasts protruded and were difficult to ignore. The only thing I remembered from her first lesson was her introduction and her big rack...
I listened to her lectures, but often, my eyes focused on her top. Several times, I tried to shut my eyes and focus on the material, but it wasn't easy. Especially when I heard her smirk, "Eli, I'd rather you sleep at home." How was I supposed to explain that it was the only way I would not be distracted by her breathtaking body...
At the end of the year, she summoned me to her office. She smiled, "I gave you an A, but it's because of your potential and less because of your performance. You were too distracted during my lessons. I may guess the reason, but it's still unacceptable. In the future, you'll have to concentrate on the important subjects and ignore everything else."
I mumbled, "Ms. Jones, thank you for trusting me. You are the best and nicest teacher I've ever had. I think I am in love with you..."
She smiled, "Eli, you are young. One day, you'll find a true love. Good luck, and I hope you end up in the right profession."
And now we meet again...
...
The next morning, I started my rounds earlier than usual. Before my students and the nurse joined me, I went to her room. Unlike the prior day, her hair was combed, and she added lipstick and makeup. Her face looked as pretty, just as I remembered. The hospital's loose gown hid her body...
She grinned, "Good morning, Dr. Gordon. It's so nice to see you in a white gown. It looks good on you."
"Thank you, Ms. Jones. By the way, I prefer you call me Eli when nobody else is in the room."
"Dr. Gordon, if I was a physician who saved somebody's life, and that person didn't address me as 'doctor,' I'd be upset... And, please call me Mary."
I laughed, "Mary... It is difficult to call you by your first name. I did what every other physician would do, not more. By the way, I looked at your chart, and all the tests improved nicely. But I was still surprised..."
She gave me a concerned look, "What is it?"
"As I recall, my college teacher told us women were heartless. To my amazement, I found a heart in your body."
She giggled, "Eli, I never said that. It's not fair to mock an oldie."
I chuckled, "I know you never said that, but you look very cute when you smile. I had to see it again. Jokes aside, your heart and lungs need to be examined. Is it OK if I do it, or you'd rather another doctor does it?"
She smiled at me, "Jake, you worked on my body a couple of times already. Why would I ask for another doctor?"
I stuttered, "Becauuse now you are awaake. I wasn't suure you'll feeel comfortable..."
"Doctor, don't be silly. Do whatever needs to be done."
I listened to her lungs from her back side - Everything sounded normal. However, it was torture to listen to her heart so close to her massive tits, despite the stigma that a physician's attention is automatically switched to thinking about medical lesions when examining patients. I was obsessed with Ms. Jones's body for too long to ignore it now. When I listened to her heart, I felt my hand shaking, and my palm started sweating. I gazed at her face and said, "Lady, I was wrong. You do have a heart. No more arrhythmias or new murmurs. Based on your available data, you continue recovering well. I would like to transfer you to a regular floor. In two days, we'll repeat your heart scan, and if the heart function has improved, you'll be on your way home soon."
"Eli, this is good news. Everybody here was friendly, but... the hospital's food could be better."
"I agree. You are lucky to eat it for only a few days, while I have to eat it every day for years..."
"Can't your wife make you a better meal?"
"Mary, I am not married. When I get home, I am usually too tired to make my own dinner, so I buy prepared food, and microwave it at home."
She glanced at me for a moment and said, "When you are ready to discharge me home, I'll invite you for a homemade dinner at my house."
"Are you sure your husband won't care?"
"I am not married."
"In this case, I'll be happy to. I'll use the opportunity to examine you again. You need a follow-up visit to ensure no complications happen once you are out of the hospital."
I continued checking on her daily. Her heart returned to normal, and cardiac enzymes normalized as well. On her fifth day in the hospital, I sent her home with a recommendation for a week of home rest.
When Mary was about to leave, she reminded me to arrive at her house on Friday evening at 6:30 for a homemade dinner.
...
On Friday I shaved, showered, and dressed nicely. I was nervous, and my pulse was more than 100 times per minute. It was one thing to see and treat Mary in the hospital. Being at her home and having her cook for me was a whole different experience.
I bought a bouquet of white and pink roses and a box of gourmet truffles on the way to her house.
Mary opened the door and smiled. I was stunned. I have never seen her like that before. In college, she used simple baggy clothes and heavy jackets, trying to conceal her massive chest. In the hospital, she wore an ugly hospital gown that hid her body. Now, she wore a tight beige dress that displayed her voluptuous body. My jaw fell to the floor when I faced her huge chest, narrow waist, and wide hips.
She grinned, "Eli, I still remember you ogling me in college, wondering what I hid behind my formal suits. You were not the only one doing that, but you were my favorite, so I chose you to sit in the first row... And now you saved my life. I had to show you the real me... Are these beautiful flowers for me? Thank you, but you didn't have to do it. Let's go inside. I prepared Italian food. Hopefully, you'll like it."
"Mary, after getting used to eating junk food, hospital cafeteria meals, and ready microwaveable stuff, any home meal will be a welcome change."
She showed me her home. Two bedrooms, a single bathroom, a living room, and a basement. It was a small house, but it felt homey.