Chapter 4
Two days later, all the test results were in.
In the consultation room, a few veteran doctors from Riverside Hospital's respiratory department looked at the reports, then at each other, not sure what to say.
"Pneumocystis pneumonia?" An older doctor with gray hair adjusted his glasses, his face full of disbelief. "This disease is just too rare. In forty years of practice, I've only ever seen it in textbooks."
He looked at me, still confused. "Dr. Langley, what made you even think to check for something like this?"
I explained calmly, "The patient has a history of long-term immunosuppressant use, which is a key factor.
"Besides, his persistent high fever and the clubbing of his fingers that I noticed. These are all classic signs of Pneumocystis infection, even if they're not very obvious."
Another expert spoke up, sounding skeptical. "But the reported incidence of this disease here is less than one in ten thousand. How can you be so sure?
"If you make the wrong call and use the wrong meds, it could be a disaster."
I met his eyes, not backing down at all. "That's exactly why it's so easy to overlook or get it wrong. If we keep treating him as if it's just ordinary pneumonia, he doesn't stand a chance.
"But if I'm right and we start the targeted treatment now, there's still hope for him. Without timely treatment, the death rate for this is nearly ninety percent."
The room fell silent.
Everyone knew I was right.
When faced with unknown risks or certain death, the choice was obvious.
Edward decided on the spot. "We'll go with Dr. Langley's plan."
On the third day after we started the meds, it was like a miracle.
The patient's fever finally began to break, dropping from a relentless 104°F down to 100.4°F.
A week later, he was off the ventilator. With someone supporting him, he managed to get out of bed and take a few steps.
The patient's family gripped my hand tightly, tears streaming down their faces. "Dr. Langley, you saved my dad. You're our family's savior. We owe you everything."
The chairman was a famous entrepreneur. Everyone in town knew his name.
The story of how a young doctor had miraculously brought him back from death's door spread like wildfire through the city's medical circles and high society.
Doctor group chats all over the city were blowing up.
[Did you hear? Riverside Hospital just got a total legend. She just joined and already diagnosed a case of Pneumocystis pneumonia.]
[No way. That's the kind of thing you only read about in textbooks. I've been a doctor for thirty years, and I've only ever heard of it once.]
[Who is this doctor? That's wild.]
[I think she came from Doriaten Hospital. Her name's Eloise Langley."
When the news hit the ER at Doriaten Hospital, Felix couldn't contain his excitement.
He waved his phone at his coworkers. "See? Didn't I tell you Eloise was the real deal? She just became a legend at Riverside Hospital."
The head nurse shot her a sour look, muttering, "Whatever. She just got lucky."
Felix snorted and fired back, "Lucky? Her master's thesis was all about Differentiating and Diagnosing Rare Pulmonary Infections.' That's called expertise, not luck. You just can't handle her success."
The head nurse's face went from red to pale, and she couldn't get a word out.
In James's office, he stared at his phone as the group chat exploded with messages, his expression stormy enough to make the air feel heavy.
A familiar department head messaged him privately. "James, don't you think firing Eloise was a bit too rash? She's a real talent."
James didn't respond. He just slammed his phone down on the desk with a dull thud, frustration written all over his face.
Meanwhile, at Riverside Hospital, Edward didn't miss a beat. He told the PR department to jump on the chance and go all out with the success story.
My photo and bio were plastered front and center on the hospital's official website.
The headline read: [Renowned Pulmonary and Rare Disease Specialist Dr. Eloise Langley Joins Riverside Hospital.]
In the photo, I was dressed in a crisp white coat, my eyes sharp and focused.
That was the start of my new life.