Redeeming The Golden Ticket To Life

While I had my eyes on her various design sketches as well as the office, I couldn't help but notice that Zhang Wei and Qiang were both standing by the door expressionless. 

As if they were waiting for something to happen.

I slightly nudged the old man beside his elbow. He looked at me irritated. I simply point his sight towards the door. While admiring the outfit, he moved his chair slightly to get a better look towards the door. 

After some couple of glances, he finally understood that there is still something more brewing here hidden from us.

He turned towards Bai Chang and said affectionately, "You wanted to show us something originally, would you show it to us now?"

"Sure father, please follow my lead a little bit more," she then walked towards the wall decor at the back of the office, behind her desk. 

She simply stood in front of it.

[Beepp...Beep… Beep]

A loud beep rang throughout the room. It was very mechanical and suddenly, the wall decor replaced itself with a high-grade locker safe type door with only a small hole at the very edge of the door.

Then she turned towards us, "Mother, Father; behind this door lies the explanation to the events that transpired in the past few days. The key to the mystery lays here," she announced.

Then she simply pulled out a chain with a beautiful round pendant on it. She slid the pendant through the hole and a soft mechanical buzzing sound started to come through the door. 

I looked towards the door, both the boys have now walked inside the office and were listening to every minute sounds and details carefully.

'Are they cooking up troubles in our absence?' my heartbeat quickened.

In the time being the door finally revealed the way to another side.

"Come follow me" she urged us to keep up with her.

We walked through the door, what welcomed us were stairs leading us downstairs.

They were metallic grey in colour mostly made up of Steel, I guess.

We simply walked down.

There were rows of the clear glass room. All whitewashed. This seemed like a private hospital. As I have worked in the administrative department in several hospitals and myself I had been a practising Doctor until a few years back. I realised where we were!

I looked around and found Qiang to be gawking at the set-up. Clearly, he wasn't in the loop, while Zhang Wei looked surprised but not overwhelmed by it. It seems he was aware of its existence but never permitted to enter.

Bai Chang turned towards us and softly said, "I know that you all care for me but I want you all to realise that I can take care of myself. I know my medical conditions and the potential threat that it poses to me. I assure you, I am taking good care of myself.``

She paused while she sharply stared at Qiang. The atmosphere immediately turned hostile. 

(She is furious, my poor son has to suffer through it, though he deserves every bit of it.)

She looked him straight in his eyes and spoke clearly, "the medical reports turned anaemic as I had donated blood to myself, just the day before the medical testing."

Then she simply turned around and ignored Qiang like a cold turkey.

I looked towards the old man. He has been quiet all this time. He was curiously looking around to explore this more.

He really didn't like his son, I guess. He absolutely ignored him.

My poor boy was ostracised by his own friends and family.

"Mother," Bai Chang called out to me. 

"Yes, my child speak."

"Mother, I know that you have a medical degree and you have served as hospital administrative council and currently you are an honorary consultant to government health commissions. You chair the distinguished title of state medical advisor. Today to make it clear for once and for all, I want you to confirm the facilities here with your own eyes and explain to people around to dispel any lingering doubts, that they may have," she looked sheepish as if feeling guilty to ask for something, "long story short, could you give me a private certification, while to inspect the facility."

I stood silent for some time. It seems she is serious about this private medical set up that she has here.

Instead of replying to her question, I asked her my own, "Do you know the different classes of medical devices?"

"Well according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) A medical device is used to diagnose, prevent, or treat a medical disease or condition without having any chemical action on any part of the body. There are 3 classes of medical devices:

Class I devices are low-risk devices. Examples include bandages, handheld surgical instruments, and nonelectric wheelchairs.

Class II devices are intermediate-risk devices. Examples include computed tomography (CT) scanners or infusion pumps for intravenous medications.

Class III devices are high-risk devices that are very important to the health or sustaining life. Examples include pacemakers and deep-brain stimulators." she replied.

"Good then show me around his room to help you inspect," I replied warmly.

(I am curious as to how she set-up a place like this while no one was aware of it.)

First, she took us towards the clear room at the rightmost corner.

As we entered there were HEPA filters and three-way airlock doors to ensure maximum sterilisation. Then we put on PPE garbs and entered the main room after a five-minute aerosol type chemical sterilization.

It was an ICU. Equipment used in the ICU varies from the general, such as instruments to measure blood pressure, to very specialized devices, such as bedside monitors or ventilators. ICU equipment may be used to monitor the patient and/or help treat their illness. NET brand ICU Equipment has set new standards in intensive care. The ICU equipment we offer includes Defibrillator, Patient Monitor, Ventilator, CPAP & BPAP systems etc.

The place was well equipped with all of them and I saw as she got me records of installations and their service manual as well as a safety plan and the ventilation plan for the room respectively. As I scrutinize every detail the more I am shocked with what I witnessed. She had a fully functional as well as well equipped ICU. Much better than most hospitals could afford.

Then we moved towards another room. It had a connecting door to the ICU. There was also triple air-locked doors after we passed through the doors there is a scrub basin and beyond it lies an operation theatre.

There were all records of the pieces of equipment and their details. As I looked down the list I couldn't help but look towards my baby girl, when did she become such efficient and when did she grow so self-reliant. It seems from all her preparation she absolutely distrusts any kind of establishment that is not hers or developed by her.

I once again look towards the list and then around the room, 

Cannula- to create a permanent pathway to a vein (or artery) for repeated injections or infusion of intravenous fluids

Cardioverter / Defibrillator- to correct arrhythmias of the heart or to start up a heart that is not beating

Catheter - to drain and collect urine directly from the bladder (primary use); also to act as a makeshift oxygen tube, etc.

Dialyser- to remove toxic materials from the blood that are generally removed by the kidneys; used in case of kidney failure

Electrocardiograph machine- to record the electrical activity of the heart over a period of time

Enema equipment- to inject fluid into the lower bowel for several purposes, most frequently for relieving constipation

Endoscope- to look inside the gastrointestinal tract, used mainly in surgery or by surgical consultants

Gas cylinder- as a supply of oxygen, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, etc.

Gauze sponge, Surgical scissors- used for dissecting or cutting

Hypodermic needle / Syringe-for injections and aspiration of blood or fluid from the body

Infection control equipment-

as in gloves, gowns, bonnets, shoe covers, face shields, goggles, and surgical masks for preventing nosocomial or healthcare-associated infection

Instrument sterilizer to sterilize instruments in absence of an autoclave, Kidney dish as a tray for instruments, gauze, tissue, etc.

Measuring tape- for length, height, head circumference and girth measurements

Medical halogen penlight- to see into the eye, natural orifices, etc. and to test for pupillary light reflex, etc.

Medical ultrasound- to create an image of internal body structures

Nasogastric tube-for nasogastric suction or the introduction of food or drugs into the body

Nebulizer-to produce aerosols of drugs to be administered by the respiratory route

Ophthalmoscope- to look at the retina.

And the list goes on. This room had everything one could probably ever need in any major hospital and the point to take note was that they all formed lastest models down the line of all famous medical equipment producer. 

How much commission did they make out of my daughter's pocket, I wondered!