“Dead on arrival,” the aide announced as the body was wheeled into
the emergency room of the Philadelphia State Hospital. Doctor Lucas Smith
pondered over the bloody cadaver in front of him. It was
eleven in the evening on an otherwise fine night. It was the twentieth of
November. There was no way to tell who he was just by looking. It seemed the man
was stabbed to death; his face totally mutilated beyond recognition. Whoever was
responsible for this must have either been out of his mind or completely enraged
beyond rational thinking. There was nothing left for the doctor to do; only a
lab test could identify who he was. After having put on his coat, he started to
walk back home.
Doctor Smith had an illustrious career. He was one of the best surgeons
in the entirety of the United States. His name ranks among those of the most
respected medical experts in the world. At forty-nine years of age, his rich
experience in the medical field has earned him many admirers- and enemies.
Lucas recalled an incident he had just a week ago as he was walking home.
His car was mortgaged; leaving him without any transportation. Musing quietly to
himself, he remembered how he was threatened just last week by a disgruntled
husband…
“Doctor Smith. Do you realize that I am offering you five million
dollars if you would make a ‘mistake’ in this operation?” asked the
husband.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Heinrich. I don’t believe that a fifteen
million-dollar insurance is enough reason to lose a life. As a doctor, I work
for the best interests of my patients; no more, no less.” Lucas replied.
“Think it over carefully,” Heinrich began. “I’m offering you a
chance to get out of the rat race. A simple operation like this can set you up
for life!”
Lucas was indignant. He shot back, “Sir, you may think that every man
has his price, but don’t lump me with the rest. I will do as my job requires.
She has paid me to cure her; not to kill her. I believe it would be best if you
would leave instead. For your sakes, I will not mention this incident to her,
lest you regret this moment immensely.”
Mr.
Heinrich haughtily stormed out of Lucas’ office. Heaving a sigh of relief,
Lucas scheduled the operation for the following week.
By now, slowly but wearily, Lucas opened his door and clambered up the
stairs. It was a long, hard day for him. In fact, the entire day was such a blur
that he did not even recall what happened within the day.
After
having said his prayers, he drifted into a deep slumber.
The next day, the twenty-first of November, proved to be a big day. Lucas
got up, took a shower, and braced himself to perform the operation on Mrs.
Heinrich. Due to constant heart problems, she was in dire need of a heart
transplant. After about five months of waiting, they finally found a perfect
match. This was the day that Lucas will perform his first heart transplant.
Despite the fact that this is his first such procedure, everybody trusts him
since everyone knows how he takes his craft professionally.
Dr. Smith wheeled in Mrs. Heinrich into the emergency room. He was more
than eager to do his work; pressure was a plus factor for him. He didn’t mind
the threats. In fact, it fueled him to make sure that this will be one of his
best operations.
“Dearest Lord,” Lucas prayed in silence. “May you watch over this
operation. Without your help, all of my talents will be meaningless. From you I
draw all my inspiration and strength. From you comes all the blessings that I
wholeheartedly share with those who need it.”
Looking intently at the nurses, he motioned to them to administer
anesthesia to Mrs. Heinrich. “It’s going to be all right, ma’am.” He
soothingly assured her.
“I’m quite sure. I can’t trust anyone the way that I trust you- not
even my husband,” she mused.
Within a few minutes, she was completely asleep. A smile registered on her face;
showing her absolute trust in Lucas. She was sure that she was in good hands,
and that can be no closer to the truth.
“Doctor Smith, you look deathly pale. Are you sure you want to
continue?” asked one of the nurses. She was concerned that the doctor seemed
so pale and so cold, as though he were so stressed out.
“Of course not,” retorted Lucas. “I’m perfectly fine. Hand me the
scalpel, please.”
The operation was finished within five hours. Strangely, the doctor’s
appearance belied his state.
He handled the operation expertly. He was not as edgy as the nurses thought he
was. In fact, he was as cool as ice; performing the operation with unprecedented
precision for a doctor who performed an open-heart surgery for the first time.
He smiled in relief as he saw that his efforts were not in vain. Once again, the
great doctor Smith has kept his record pristine. He has never let a patient down
throughout his career. More importantly, he has saved yet another life. Mrs.
Heinrich was one of the most prominent philanthropists in the country. It would
have been a crushing blow to him to have lost her.
After that operation, Doctor Smith left the operating room. He didn’t
wait for Mrs. Heinrich to see him and thank him for his help. When she came to,
she looked for the doctor. He was nowhere to be found.
She
wanted to reward him for having saved her life, but then she was too weak to go
around the hospital and look for him. In a while, she fell into a deep slumber.
Two days later, she was sent back home without ever seeing Doctor Smith.
She was still recovering from the operation, and she hobbled as she walked. She
went back to her sprawling mansion with a far more grateful spirit. She was a
philanthropist, but now she wanted to make certain that she deserved that
distinction. She wanted to share her second life with the downtrodden. She
wanted to make this her way of showing her gratitude to Doctor Smith, who,
strangely enough, did not even charge a doctor’s fee. She smiled as she saw
the familiar grounds of Heinrich manor.
As she approached the driveway, she saw her husband being led out of the
door, handcuffed. Two policemen held him by each side, escorting him to their
patrol car. Seeing his wife, Mr. Heinrich’s face turned ashen. It was as
though she were a ghost.
“What’s going on here, officers?” she asked.
“Mrs. Heinrich,” one of the policemen began. “Your husband is under
arrest for the murder of Doctor Lucas Smith last November 20. His fingerprints
were found all over the doctor’s body.”
“November 20? But that was one day before he operated on me!”
There are some things in this world that can never be explained. Life is too short. Sometimes, a lifetime is not enough for one to do what he was born to do. We may never know the truth behind it, but perhaps it was a case of unfinished business.