Lily looks at Bree who is carefully tucking Harry in, and feels sad. Handing her a glass of hot water, she
says, "Mom, drink some. I've talked to the doctor. Dad is suffering from brain infarction, but we can only
know more after tomorrow's examination. I'll have a friend from Karl's Hospital pick him up in the
morning."
"What else did the doctor say? How is your dad? Is he in any mortal danger?"
"Not temporarily, but he needs surgery. So, I want to transfer him to Karl's Hospital." Lily plays down
the seriousness of Harry's illness, afraid that Bree can't take it.
"Karl's Hospital?" Bree's memory doesn't serve her well at this old age. "Is it...?"
"It's Rex's friend's hospital," Lily interrupts, "It's better than this one. Dad will be fine there."
"That's good. It's preferable to have friends around."
Lily looks down at Harry, who is lying on the hospital bed and wearing a patient gown. He is in a coma,
with a ventilator in his nose and a clip attached to the ECG monitor on his finger. However, he seems
tense.
Lily cries despite herself, feeling complicated. She remembers Harry as the young man he used to be.
But the truth is time has made him old and weak.
Lily sniffs and endures the sadness that is about to burst out. She doesn't want to sadden Bree even
more. Taking out her phone, Lily calls Karl.
The phone rings a few times before it is picked up. A familiar warm voice sounds, "Lily?"
"Karl, it's me."
Her voice is trembling, which worries Karl. His first thought is that it must be about Rex. "What's wrong?
What happened?"
"I'm fine. It's my father." Lily looks at the white wall in front of her, feeling depressed. "This morning, my
father had brain infarction. He has just been rescued in the hospital. The doctor said the clots were
huge and he needed surgery."
"Don't worry. How is the old man now?"
"He is in bed, resting. The doctor warned me not to disturb him. And the examination result will not
come out until tomorrow."
"Then I'll send someone to pick him up early tomorrow morning. We have mobile beds. There's no
need for him to walk, and we will move him through the hospital's emergency passageway. He will be in
good hands. Karl's hospital has the best neural doctors in the country, and the examination can take
place immediately," Karl explains to her slowly, afraid that she can't withstand the blow.
Lily is deeply grateful. "Thank you, Karl. I'm really worried. I don't know what to do. I'll have to trouble
you...."
"You're welcome. Stay with him tonight and wait for me."
"Alright."
Hanging up the phone, Lily feels a little more at ease. She shivers at the thought that Harry won't get
better. What will become of her and Bree if that happens?
They might break down.
This is the first time Lily feels the burden of family. She leaves the shop in Gladys's care. Fortunately,
Adair is with Ryan in London. Otherwise, Adair will have no one to look after him.
Karl has good connections and manages to find Harry a private ward. At night, Bree lies down on
another bed and rests, while Lily goes home to pack some daily necessities.
If Harry is to be hospitalized after the surgery, they will come in handy.
The inky night howls its presence through the barred windows of the RED Community. Carrying a
heavy handbag, Lily seems to have merged with the endless night.
A feeling of exhaustion overcomes her. Her heart is weighed down by tons of hefty stones, leaving her
breathless. She prays every day for this jinx to go away quickly.
Her nose is sore. Her tears are about to come off but are restrained. Rex, when will you come back?
...
Early the next morning, Karl's men arrive at the hospital. He has made a thorough plan and sent
enough manpower. Harry cannot get out of bed and is pushed into the ambulance. They smoothly
arrive at the underground garage of Karl's Hospital and Harry's bed is wheeled into the elevator.
His ward is at the top floor, which is relatively quiet. It is the VVIP ward of the hospital. As soon as Lily
exits the elevator, she sees Karl waiting at the door of the ward.
"Karl!"
"Welcome." On Karl's right, there is a middle-aged man wearing a white coat with a work card on his
chest. "This is Reynold Herbert, chief of the Department of Neurology."
Lily stretches out her right hand and says, "Hello, Doctor Herbert."
"Hello. Help the old man settle in. I heard from Doctor Karl that you already had the scans. You can
show them to me later."
Lily quickly nods and replies, "Alright. Wait a moment!"
She hastily turns around and runs into the ward. After putting down Harry's stuff, she instructs Bree a
few things. Then she follows Reynold into the office and hands him the scans from yesterday.
Reynold is an expert in neurology, so he knows what is going on at a glance. "Miss Lily, it is indeed
brain infarction. There are clots in two of his blood vessels. The main blood vessel has bigger clots,
which requires stents. The other one is fine, and doesn't necessarily need to be treated. But rest
assured, he is not in any mortal danger."
Reynold speaks with clear articulation. He has been a doctor for years, which gives him compassion.
Every word he says is convincing.
Lily is overjoyed. "Really? Is there any risk in the surgery?"
"No." Reynold waves his hand confidently. "I've been operating for almost 30 years. This is nothing I
haven't seen. Just rest assured!"
His words provide Lily with great comfort. Her eyes turning red, she says, "Then please take care of
him."
"I will. You're Karl's friend. I won't brag to you."
Karl also heaves a sigh of relief. "Doctor Herbert is very capable. Trust him. Don't be afraid."
Lily takes a deep breath and nods with difficulty. Other than thanking him, she doesn't know what else
to say.
Lily tells Bree the news in the ward. The mother and daughter look at each other with tears in their
eyes. The ward is quiet, but the atmosphere is solemn.
This oppressive feeling lasts until Harry wakes up. He doesn't have time to react, and undergoes
physical examination. Karl makes everything easier. Harry doesn't need to queue up or wait for the
results.
Reynold visits the ward and discusses the operation plan with Lily and Bree, "If you agree to it, we can
do it tomorrow morning. We will put a large imported stent in the main vessel. If it is cleared, the small
stent won't be necessary."
Lily and Bree have no objections, but they are concerned about the procedure.
"Will it hurt?"
"No, it's all minimally invasive now. Besides, we will give him anesthetic. It will be over quickly."
Reynold uses a soft tone to comfort them, deeply understanding their feelings as family members.
"Doctor Herbert, my husband hasn't been in good health. Can he withstand the surgery?" Bree is
extremely worried, afraid that something might go awry.
Reynold keeps smiling, not intending to put them under more pressure. "Don't worry. I've seen the test
indicators. The surgery is not recommended if he is in no condition for that. Trust in science, and trust
in medicine. Nothing will go wrong."
Lily says, "Doctor Herbert, you are the top expert in this field. We trust you. Do it tomorrow according to
your plan."
This oppressive feeling lasts until Harry wakes up. He doesn't have time to react, and undergoes
physical examination. Karl makes everything easier. Harry doesn't need to queue up or wait for the
results.
Reynold visits the ward and discusses the operation plan with Lily and Bree, "If you agree to it, we can
do it tomorrow morning. We will put a large imported stent in the main vessel. If it is cleared, the small
stent won't be necessary."
Lily and Bree have no objections, but they are concerned about the procedure.
"Will tt hurt?"
"No, it's all minimally invasive now. Besides, we will give him anesthetic. It will be over quickly."
Reynold uses a soft tone to comfort them, deeply understanding their feelings as family members.
"Doctor Herbert, my husband hasn't been in good health. Can he withstand the surgery?" Bree is
extremely worried, afraid that something might go awry.
Reynold keeps smiling, not intending to put them under more pressure. "Don't worry. I've seen the test
indicators. The surgery is not recommended if he is in no condition for that. Trust in science, and trust
in medicine. Nothing will go wrong."
Lily says, "Doctor Herbert, you are the top expert in this field. We trust you. Do it tomorrow according to
your plan."
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