Medical Center.
Rooftop terrace.
"What are we waiting for?"
An intern asked.
"Presbyterian Hospital is sending over a ten-year-old girl with abdominal leiomyosarcoma. It's inoperable."
Shorty, who was leading the team, stood at the front and gazed into the distance as he explained. Then he asked, "Louis, tell us what you know about abdominal leiomyosarcoma."
"Yes."
The intern who had spoken, Louis, jolted in surprise and hurriedly said, "Leiomyosarcoma is a malignant mesenchymal tumor originating from the smooth muscle of the intestinal wall, the smooth muscle of intestinal blood vessels, or the muscularis mucosae of the intestinal wall..."
"This kind of tumor is most common in middle-aged and elderly patients. It can occur in younger people too, but it's extremely rare in a ten-year-old child."
Another intern chimed in, "And if it's inoperable, why are they sending her to us?"
"Whether it's truly inoperable isn't for them to decide."
Another intern cut in. "Only after Dr. Duncan examines her can anyone say for sure."
"She's here!"
Shorty interrupted their conversation.
Everyone looked toward the medical helicopter speeding toward them.
Shorty and the interns under him brought the little girl into a hospital room.
When Adam entered, he nodded at Shorty.
"Tori has abdominal leiomyosarcoma. The tumor is wrapped around her abdominal artery, splenic artery, and left gastric artery."
Shorty began outlining her condition. "This type of tumor is very difficult to remove."
"Difficult, but not impossible."
Among the family members gathered around the little girl's bed, her grandmother spoke first. She looked at Adam expectantly. "Right, Dr. Duncan?"
"We'll do everything we can."
Adam did not make sweeping promises and answered cautiously.
Pediatric surgery had always been troublesome.
One careless word could provoke an intense emotional reaction from the parents.
"If you aren't sure, you need to tell us."
The