windy city rainy season

Tao Yu woke up in the middle of the night and found that half of the bed was empty, and Chang Zheng was not in the bedroom.

Didn't you go back to the hospital again?

He turned on the phone, and it was not yet five o'clock. He took advantage of the light and found that the other party's pager was still on the bedside table.Get up and open the bedroom door, the living room is dark, only the fluorescent light from the TV screen, Chang Zheng leans on the sofa, with a cup of coffee in hand.

"Why don't you go to sleep?" Tao Yu glanced at the TV, and all sleepiness disappeared immediately.

On the screen was a close-up of the open chest cavity, a tube was inserted into the heart, and a small incision was made in a certain part with a scalpel in one hand, but the expected scene of blood gushing did not appear.

Depend on!He shivered coldly, and couldn't understand Dr. Chang's hobby of watching and cutting people in the middle of the night.

"What time did you wake up?" Tao Yu grabbed a pillow and threw it on the sofa, asking in a muffled voice.

"Just got up." Chang Zheng replied casually.

Tao Yu turned over, turned his back to the screen and said, "He's going to make a big cut in a while, make a horizontal cut and a vertical cut, then stitch the parts together, cut off a piece, and sew it back with something artificial—that's all. You watched a video for almost a week, and I remembered it!"

Chang Zheng was amused, took his pillow away and said: "This is an aortic valve replacement operation. Where does the knife start, where does it extend horizontally, and where does the knife go down to the aortic valve annulus, and there are artificial valves. The selection and the way of suturing will affect the effect of the operation. You said that the patient is a cow, and you can’t cut the cow casually.”

Tao Yu said noncommittally, "You can't sleep in the middle of the night, so why not give me some serious hypnosis?"

Dr. Chang didn't take it seriously: "I'm going to have this operation this morning, and Parker asked me to perform the operation."

Parker is the head of the Cardiovascular Surgery Department of Chang Zheng's hospital. Tao Yu often hears this name, and knows that Chang Zheng hangs out with him, and most of the people he contacts are heart patients. He is the chief knife.

The stage of resident medicine in the United States is not specialized training. A resident doctor is just a brick, which can be moved wherever it is needed.But several bricks are placed there, some are round and some are square, some are flat and some are long, and everyone wants to choose a suitable one.Resident doctors are outstanding in some aspects, and the attending doctors of that department will naturally think of him often, and will hand over patients to him.

Changzheng's emphasis is undoubtedly on cardiovascular surgery. Compared with others, he has an advantage. His father is a famous cardiovascular expert. He has heard more bizarre cases since he was a child, and he understands the treatment options that are outside the rules. Have seen more complex classic surgical operations.Tao Yu had seen Chang Zheng holding a ruler to measure the ratio of surgery to his father's surgery video, and was forced to listen to him read those treatment notes as a bedtime story.Tao Yu felt that Chang Zheng must admire his father very much, not the blind worship of a child who "my dad can do everything", but looking up to his father as his goal on the way forward.

Leaning on the armrest of the sofa, Tao Yu woke up and returned to the cage, and while half asleep and half awake, he heard Chang Zheng say in his ear: "Come with me to a place next Monday."

"Where?"

"Angles' home."

The last Monday in May every year is Memorial Day, a public holiday to commemorate those American soldiers who died for their country.

Tao Yu didn't take this festival seriously. In his impression, American soldiers killed themselves, such as in North Korea, Iraq, and Afghanistan.Like most Chinese youths, he has conspiracy theories about all military actions taken by the US military.

Chang Zheng drove the car and retorted: "Are military operations on the territory of other countries a conspiracy? This festival also commemorates those American soldiers who died in the Chinese battlefield during World War II."

Tao Yu couldn't refute for a while. He didn't know history any more. At least he had heard of the Flying Tigers that aided China in the China-Myanmar-India War Zone, and the American transport planes and bombing troops on the Hump route.

"America's own backyard has been cleaned up?" Tao Yu argued unwillingly, "Have the people in Texas solved the problem of self-government?"

Chang Zheng said unhurriedly: "There is no self-government? You lost your temper and closed the bedroom door for self-government, and did not let me enter the room to sleep. Have I dealt with you? Let it hang, you can stay in the bedroom for the rest of your life." ?”

Tao Yu was furious.

Most of the time he was with Chang Zheng, he didn’t feel the so-called cultural differences. Chang Zheng’s character is introverted and assertive, as if he was cultivated according to some traditional norms. Sometimes Tao Yu even felt that the other party was more like a traditional person than himself. Chinese.However, after all, he was born and raised in the United States, and even his parents were not born in mainland China. Apart from being able to speak Chinese, Dr. Chang may not have much sense of identity with his Chinese ancestry.When some topics involve China and the United States, he naturally looks at the issue from the standpoint of the Americans. Tao Yu, as a former cynic who has received more than [-] years of red education, of course cannot agree with the views of the US imperialists. friction.Every time after a quarrel, Tao Yu hated himself for talking about national affairs for nothing, like Luo Feng who only cared about variety shows, how much less disputes would there be in the world.

The car was quiet for a while, Chang Zheng turned his head to look at Tao Yu, saw that the other party was looking ahead without making a sound, and chuckled softly, "Are you angry?"

Tao Yu manually pushed the other person's face back: "Watch your way carefully, drive your car!"

Chang Zheng smiled and said, "I didn't really leave you alone. Every time you lock yourself in the room, I ask you if you want to drink water and eat. Bush doesn't dare to cut off water and electricity for the self-government, does he?"

Tao Yu turned his head and looked out the window, wondering if he was talking nice to me?This is trying to anger me!

"Actually, two years ago, I also had the urge to join the army." Chang Zheng said suddenly, "At that time, the US military's Red Wings operation in Afghanistan failed miserably. On Independence Day that year, my friends and I went to a rally in the city and happened to see the Air Force I am recruiting military doctors, and I also took the registration form."

"Why didn't you go later?" Tao Yu couldn't help but turned around and asked.

"Because I still owe a large loan!" Chang Zheng smiled, "I'm just joking, because I heard that those who enlisted in the army at that time would be sent to the US military base in South Korea and not go to the battlefield."

Tao Yu didn't know how to answer the words for a moment, he had never had the urge to be a soldier, never even thought about it.At that time, he had a bright future planned by his family. If he had nothing to do, he would go to abuse him. He couldn't eat well and sleep well, and he was trained as a mule all day long.The country has only been away from war for more than [-] years, and the generation that has never experienced war has taken peace for granted, and serving as a soldier has become a choice with no way out.

Chang Zheng did not expect Tao Yu to comment on his passion back then, and continued: "Actually, soldiers in any country are the same. He is serving for his country. The country's strategic policy may make mistakes, but as a soldier, he obeys orders and serves his country well. They are all worthy of respect.”

The car drove for two hours to a park in the outer suburbs, surrounded by forest reserves. When getting off the car, Tao Yu saw a few deer leisurely looking for food not far away, and he didn't care about the visitors.

Chang Zheng led him to a spiers of buildings, and introduced as he walked: "This is the property of the church. Some children with disabilities are accommodated. Some are descendants of soldiers who died in battle. For various reasons, their mothers or other relatives are burdened. They can’t live without their lives, so they send their children here. There are also some families who pay and send their children here regularly for a period of time, so that they can get along with other children with similar diseases.”

Tao Yu asked, "Are you here to do volunteer work?"

"That's right." Chang Zheng said, "Some children here suffer from Williams' disease. My parents have built a fund, operate it with their own income, and also accept social donations. Every year, some children with such symptoms will be checked. and surgery."

Tao Yu had never heard of this disease, so he asked, "What is Williams disease?"

"A congenital neurodevelopmental abnormality caused by a deletion of a gene on chromosome seven. Most of them are mentally abnormal, but they are very friendly and friendly with strangers. Almost all of them have heart Vascular disease, the more common is aortic stenosis."

The two had already walked into the reception room. The person on duty was a middle-aged Caucasian woman who seemed to be familiar with Chang Zheng and greeted him cordially.

Chang Zheng stepped forward to give her a hug, and introduced Tao Yu to her sideways: "Thisismypartner, Yu."

Tao Yu has recently gotten used to the identity of "partner" - the name gay people call when they introduce their significant other. At first, he was a little apprehensive towards outsiders, not knowing what others would think of them.But gradually the worries were dispelled, and most people didn't show any special concern. Even if someone expressed surprise at the first time, they would soon return to normal.Tao Yu thought, this might be because the people Chang Zheng came into contact with were relatively well-educated.

The white aunt named Susan warmly shook hands with Tao Yu, and after talking for a few words, led them to the children's activity room.

Children with Williams syndrome have common physical features, such as a low base of the nose, wide lips, and a thick lower lip. Most children also have squinted eyes.But what Chang Zheng said was right, they were really happy to get close to strangers. As soon as they entered the activity room, Tao Yu and Chang Zheng were surrounded by children.

Tao Yu had no experience in raising children, so he stood at the same spot at a loss, listening to the children's chattering but without order and logic.He turned his head to look at Chang Zheng, and found that he was kneeling on the ground on one knee, holding a Superman toy in his hand, playing a war game with a boy.Chang Zheng had a smile on his face, and Tao Yu felt that the smile was different from usual, it was a kind of pure and tolerant and equal smile like an elder brother to a younger brother.

A ball hit Tao Yu, he subconsciously stretched out his hand to catch it, and looked towards the source of the ball - a girl who seemed to be seven or eight years old, and several other children looked at him expectantly.Tao Yu lightly threw the ball to a boy beside him, the boy shouted cheerfully to catch the ball, and threw it back to Tao Yu.Tao Yu and a few children circled the city, with the ball bouncing around irregularly, and as the children shouted happily, more and more children joined the circle.

The ball flew past Tao Yu again, and when he turned to pick it up, he saw Chang Zheng carrying a little girl on his shoulders and looking at him with a smile.

The girl on Chang Zheng's shoulder yelled at him: "Ball! Ball!"

Tao Yu stretched out the ball in front of the girl, and then backed away before she reached out and was about to touch the ball. He went back and forth several times before finally handing the ball into the girl's hands.The children behind were also shouting to throw the ball, Chang Zheng put the girl down, and she ran to join the group of children holding the ball.

While there was no one around, Chang Zheng pulled Tao Yu to kiss him lightly, and whispered in his ear, "Nicejob!"

Tao Yu blushed a little, looked at the group of children in front of him and said, "I never thought that one day I would play with such a group of children."

"They also have their own thoughts, but they can't communicate with others normally." Chang Zheng said, "Some of them are very talented in music, but they have no chance to receive formal training. The church can only meet basic living needs and simple education. , they need more people to care about. But there are so many things happening in this world every day, how many people will pay attention to such a group of children, some of them will not even live to adulthood because of heart disease. The fund run by my parents every year Most of the funds are used to operate on some children with serious heart diseases, and the girl just now is called Jennifer, and she is one of the candidates for this year."

Tao Yu looked at the girl, maybe her body couldn't bear the load of exercise, even if it was just a simple exercise like throwing a ball, she sat on the ground with a pale face, but she still smiled happily.

On the way back, Tao Yu asked Chang Zheng, "Why did your parents think of setting up such a fund?"

"Remember I mentioned to you that I have a sister who died young?" Chang Zheng said.

Tao Yu had an impression, but the other party didn't go into details at that time, only saying that a sister died when he was very young.He asked in surprise, "Is she also suffering from this disease?"

Chang Zheng nodded: "She had a serious heart defect and concurrent kidney damage. She had her heart replaced once, but she died only nine months after the operation. I was only two years old at the time, and I didn't care about her. Too many impressions. My mother said she loves to laugh, is very enthusiastic, like an angel."

"So your parents started this fund in memory of her?"

Chang Zheng said: "When my sister died, my father had just been promoted to be the attending doctor. He was already famous at that time. My mother was a pediatrician, but they couldn't keep their daughter. The fund was not established until after my brother was born. It was started with very little funds at the beginning, and it could only help children with the same disease for examination, and was unable to pay for their surgery. Later, some colleagues and friends of my father joined in one after another, and they got funding from some hospitals, and they could do it free of charge. Using the inspection equipment of the hospital, it gradually gained scale."

"Fortunately, neither you nor your younger brother has such a disease." Tao Yu said with emotion, it would be fatal if several children in the family were like this.

"It's not a genetic disease, it's caused by a genetic defect." Chang Zheng explained, "However, my mother said that when she gave birth to me and my younger brother, she was expecting and fearful. Fortunately, we are all healthy."

Tao Yu was still thinking about those happy and unfortunate children, Chang Zheng suddenly turned his head and said to him: "I will succeed my father and continue to run this fund. Like my parents, a large part of their income is invested in it, even my You have to take out your own loans for medical school.”

Tao Yu said, "Don't worry about your child's school loan, we can't figure it out anyway."

Chang Zheng smiled and said, "What I want to tell you is that we won't be very rich, but I won't let you worry about life anymore."

Tao Yu thinks that Dr. Chang's Chinese is still not good enough, and being rich doesn't necessarily mean having a lot of money.