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cold roomscHAPTEr 7 - HANGING ToUGH

TIME: WINTER 2008

SETTING: SAM MAXWELL, A SENIOR 20 SOMETHING ANESTHESIOLOGY RESIDENT AT COOK COUNTY HOSPITAL - CHICAGO, ILLINOIS IS FINISHING HIS RESIDENCY. SAM IS TRYING TO DECIDE ON A CAREER PATH - BATTLING WITHIN HIS MIND BETWEEN A HIGH END SUBURBAN JOB V DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS. SAM LIVES WITH KERI - WHO HE MET AT WEAGHMAN’S PARK - A WISCONSIN THEME ESTABLISHMENT AND 20 SOMETHING HANGOUT AT THE CORNER OF CLARK AND ADDISON IN FRONT OF WRIGLEY FIELD. KERI AND SAM MET DURING THE CUBS MAGICAL 2008 SEASON - WHICH ENDED IN AN UNFORTUNATE EARLY PLAYOFF EXIT.

THE O.R. ( OPERATING ROOM ) AND WEAGHMAN’S PARK ARE THE SCENES OF SCRIPT CHATTER - EXTENSIVE NARRATIVE DIALOGUE ABOUT MEDICINE AND SURGERY, CHICAGO SPORTS, AND OTHER IMPORTANT CHICAGO CULTURE AND EVENTS. FOLLOW ALONG AS EACH EPISODE BUILDS WITH EXCITING RELATIONSHIPS AND CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS.

SAMHEY JOSH IT IS UNBELIEVABLE WHAT ST. LOUIS IS DOING THIS YEAR. WEAGHMAN’S PARK DOESN’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE BREWERS - IT IS THE CARDS WHO ARE EATING UP THE DIVISION AND LEAGUE.

JOSHYES IT IS DISGUSTING WE ARE ALREADY BEHIND ST. LOUIS A FEW GAMES. HECK THE FOLKS UP NORTH ARE NOT EVEN THINKING NL CENTRAL - THEY ARE LOOKING AT THE WILD CARD ALREADY IN APRIL AND EARLY MAY.

SAMIT WILL BE A LONG SEASON IF WE LET THE CARDINALS JUMP OUT TO SUCH A BIG MONSTER LEAD.

JOSHWELL THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF SORROWS DRAINED HERE AT WEAGHMAN’S PARK LATELY WITH THE LOSSES. IF WE CAN CATCH THE CARDS BY THE ALL STAR BREAK - WELL THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING.

SAMAGAIN IT IS TIMELY HITTING AND PITCHING THAT IS THE KEY. WE NEED CONSISTENCY IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE GAME.

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JOSHAND TO NOT FALL APART IN THE PLAYOFFS AGAIN.

SAMI AGREE - I CANNOT WAIT TO GET INTO THE MEAT OF THE SEASON - THE SERIES WITH THE SOX SHOULD BE GREAT. EVERYONE IN COOK’S O.R. IS BRAGGING ABOUT THE SOX - BUT I DON’T KNOW - WE’VE GOT LAS VEGAS AS HAVING THE CUBS SECOND IN LINE FOR THE SERIES - BEHIND BOSTON.

JOSHSO WHAT IS GOING ON WITH YOU AND KERI ? BACK TOGETHER ?

SAMWELL WE WENT VIA A PATIENT TO SEATS JUST BEHIND HOME PLATE FOR THE SOX OPENER AND I DON’T EVEN REMEMBER WHO THE SOX WERE PLAYING O.R. WHAT THE SCORE WAS.

JOSHWHAT IS THAT ABOUT ?

SAMWOMEN - DEMANDING - YOU KNOW HOW IT IS - WELL SHE NEVER FORGOT ANYTHING EVER ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP AND REALLY LAYED INTO ME THE FIRST FEW INNINGS. UNBELIEVABLE.

JOSHSO YOU FILLED HER FULL OF BEER. RIGHT ?

SAMKERI IS VERY SMART - SHE PUT THE BEER DOWN AND TOLD ME THAT I DIDN’T DESERVE ANYONE - LET ALONE HER. EVENTUALLY SHE SIMMERED DOWN AND WE GOT ALONG FINE.

JOSHSO DID SHE MOVE BACK IN ?

SAMNOT YET. I FEEL SHE WANTS A RING FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

JOSHYES SHE REMEMBERED HOW EMBARRASSED SHE WAS WHEN YOU TWO TALKED TO THE ANESTHESIA GROUP UP AT LAKE FOREST HOSPITAL - THE FACT THAT YOU WERE LIVING TOGETHER AND NOT YET ENGAGED. SCANDALOUS.

SAMYES - KERI REALLY SCOLDED ME OVER THAT ONE.

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JOSHWHAT DID SHE SAY ABOUT MELANIE ?

SAMIF I EVEN MENTION HER NAME I’M HISTORY - SHE REALLY HAS IT IN FOR MELANIE. WE WERE NEVER REALLY SERIOUS. DOES SHE STILL CALL YOU JOSH ?

JOSHYES – TEXTS ALL THE TIME - WE GET TOGETHER AND ALL THAT - BUT SHE REALLY WANTS TO GET MARRIED - I CAN TELL. BUT I’M NOT.........

SAMREADY FOR THE MICHIGAN AVENUE PRACTICE YET - RIGHT ?

JOSHYES IT WILL COME WHEN WE ARE LEAST EXPECTING IT. BACK TO CUBS STUFF. MY GOD IF OUR PITCHING PICKS UP - LIKE LILLY’S RECENT PERFORMANCE.

SAMAND DEREK STARTS CONSISTENTLY HITTING.

JOSHLIKE THE GRAND SLAM TODAY - UNBELIEVABLE - BROKE UP THAT GAME WITH FLORIDA.

SAMWELL SOTO MUST START TO HIT - AND OUR STRIKE OUTS MUST STOP - EVERYONE IS STRIKING OUT THIS YEAR IT SEEMS - DEREK, ALFONSO, YOU NAME IT.

JOSHWELL LOU SAYS THIS TEAM WILL BE THERE WHEN IT COUNTS - SUMMER.

SAMBUT SOTO WAS HITTING LIKE AN OLD GRANDMOTHER - .128. DESPICABLE - TOTALLY DESPICABLE.

JOSHTRUST ME - WE WILL CLICK WHEN IT COUNTS - EVEN KERI WILL GET EXCITED THEN. SHE MAY EVEN SIMMER DOWN AND ENJOY HERSELF.

KERII HEARD THAT JOSH. I JUST SNUCK IN THE BACK DOOR. AND I HAVE SIMMERED DOWN. I’LL JUST ACCEPT THE CUBS FATE, AND MY FATE. I’M OK WITH ALL THIS. IT IS FINE LIVING AT MY SISTER’S HOUSE. IN FACT I’VE BEEN GOING OVER TO BERNIE’S ONCE IN A WHILE.

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JOSHSO YOU ARE A TRAITOR TO WEAGHMAN’S PARK ?

KERINO WAY - WEAGHMAN’S PARK AT CLARK AND ADDISON IS STILL THE BEST PLACE - HOW IS SAM DOING - COOK COUNTY MUST BE SLOW IF YOU ARE HERE.

SAMNOT THAT SLOW- I’M CHANGING KERI !

KERIHOW SO ?

JOSHHE IS GROWING UP ?

KERIYOU MEAN THERE IS SOMETHING MORE ON YOUR MIND THAN BEER, FOOTBALL, AND GIRLS ? AND OH I FORGOT SURGERY !

SAMYES I’M ON MY WAY TO THE PROMISED LAND - PRIVATE PRACTICE.

KERISO HOW WILL WILL YOU DEAL WITH ALL THOSE COLD SURGICAL COLD ROOMS YOU CONSTANTLY COMPLAIN ABOUT UP IN LAKE FOREST ?

SAMWELL I’LL HAVE SOME LIGHT DAYS - YOU KNOW - DAYS WE CAN WALK DOWN TO THE LAKE, GO TO GAMES, AND...........

KERIOK SAM MAXWELL, WHO ARE YOU GOING TO DO THAT WITH ? THIS SOUNDS LIKE FANTASY.

JOSHOH KERI EXCUSE ME - YOUR LEINIES LIGHT IS RUNNING LOW AND YOUR BRAT IS NEARLY DONE - WANT ANOTHER ?

KERISHUT UP JOSH - THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF - I’M NO LONGER TOILET TRAINING MALES.

SAMTHE ANSWER IS YOU KERI. YES WE WILL GO TO THE LAKE, CUBS, BEARS, AND BULLS GAMES.

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KERII GOT IT SAM - I’M HAPPY TO GO BUT I’M NOT GOING ANYWHERE WITH ANY MAN AGAIN AND PLAYING HOUSE, FAKING MARRIAGE, AND ALL THE REST.

SAMI GET IT KERI - WE ARE WORKING ON THAT.

KERIJOSH - THOSE BORDER GUYS BACK THERE WANT SOME 1880S LEINIES BOCK; AND STUFF SOME CHEESE DOWN THEIR THROATS WHILE YOU’RE AT IT - THEY ARE SO LOUD.

JOSHMAYBE YOU TWO SHOULD GO IN THE BACK AND HAMMER THIS OUT - I’M SO BUSY UP HERE TAKING CARE OF ALL THESE BRAT/CHEESE LOVING CUSTOMERS.

KERIOK WELL I’M READY TO HEAD BACK TO MY SISTER’S HOUSE IN WRIGLEYVILLE. CARE TO ESCORT ME SAM MAXWELL ?

SAMWE’RE OUT OF HERE. SEE YOU JOSH.

KERIBYE JOSH - LET’S KEEP OUR STREAK GOING - WE WON THE SERIES AGAINST FLORIDA.

JOSHSEE YOU WHENEVER.

DR. HANSONGREAT SEASON FOR THE BULLS. EVERYONE AGREE. THE CELTICS SERIES WAS UNBELIEVABLY EXCITING. WE ALMOST PULLED IT OUT.

SAMYES VINNY WAS A GREAT COACH FOR THIS BABY BULL TEAM - I THINK WE CAN WIN THE DIVISION AND GO DEEPER NEXT YEAR.

DR. HANSONGLENDA IS THE WORLD’S BIGGEST BULL’S FAN - GOES TO NEARLY EVERY GAME AND SHE IS GLUED TO THE TV IF SHE ISN’T AT CHICAGO STADIUM.

GLENDAYOU BET - THIS REALLY WAS A GREAT YEAR - AND THOUGH THE CELTICS BARELY WON - EVEN WITHOUT KG, WE STILL PLAYED WELL - A GREAT TEAM EFFORT.

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SAMI CANNOT KEEP THIS GUYS PRESSURE UP DR. HANSON - I’M STARTING SOME DOPAMINE AND GIVING SOME COLLOID SINCE THE CRYSTALLOID DIDN’T DO HIM WELL - HIS PRESSURE IS STILL IN THE 70S.

DR. HANSONDO YOU THINK WE ARE BLEEDING ANYWHERE ELSE SAM ?

SAMWELL THE LONG BONE FRACTURE LOOKS SWOLLEN - THIS MAY EAT UP A COUPLE OF UNITS AND WE HAVE BLOOD PRODUCTS GOING IN - RED BLOOD CELLS, FRESH FROZEN PLASMA THAWED, AND PLATELETS.

DR. HANSONOK - GET THE INTENSIVIST ON THE PHONE GLENDA - THIS GUY ISN’T AS GOOD AS THE BULLS - HE’LL NEED THE KITCHEN SINK TO STAY ON THE PLANET. KEEP HIS PRESSURE ABOVE 80 SAM. DO WE NEED A FEMORAL LINE ?

SAMABSOLUTELY. WE NEED A CENTRAL PRESSURE - OTHERWISE WE’LL BE WONDERING ALL NIGHT.

GLENDAI’LL SET UP THE LINE - THE JUNIOR SURGICAL RESIDENT IS COMING IN TO PLACE THE FEMORAL LINE.

DR. HANSONGREAT - GOOD EXPERIENCE. REMEMBER LYMPHATICS, VEIN, ARTERY, SPACE, AND THEN NERVE. SURGICAL AND ANESTHESIA BOARDS 101.

SAMI’VE STARTED A THROMBOELASTOGRAPH FOR THE COAGULATION FUNCTION. THE BLOOD COAGULATIONS TESTS ARE DRAWN ALSO.

DR. HANSONWHAT ABOUT FACTOR VII ?

SAMTHE STUDIES IN IRAQ SUPPORT ITS USE DESPITE THE COST - LET’S GO AHEAD - WE ARE ONLY SAVING A LIFE AND WE ARE GOING ALL OUT. A UNIT OF FACTOR VII GLENDA - DON’T TELL ME IT’S $10,000 - I KNOW.

GLENDACOMING RIGHT UP - COOK’S PATHOLOGY DEPARTMENT IS ALL OVER IT. SHOULD BE UP IN FEW MINUTES.

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DR. HANSONDON’T EXTUBATE THIS GUY SAM - HE’S AN OVERNIGHT VENTILATOR AND MAYBE UP TO A WEEK OF MECHANICAL VENTILATION - LET THE INTENSIVISTS HAVE THIS GUY.

SAMALL DONE - WE ARE PREPARING FOR TRANSPORT TO ICU. MAINTAIN THE PORTABLE BEAR HUGGER FOR OPTIMAL HEAT - OUR PATIENT HAS COOLED TO ABOUT 35 DEGREES.

DR. HANSONOUR SURGICAL TRAUMA PROTOCOLS DEMAND A MUCH STRICTER PROTOCOL WITH REGARDS TO BODY TEMPERATURE. WE DO EVERYTHING - WARM IV FLUIDS, BEAR HUGGERS, PROTECTED HEATING MATTRESSES, WARM GASES IN THE VENTILATOR - THE WORKS.

GLENDABECAUSE PERIOPERATIVE MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY IS HIGHLY ASSOCIATED WITH LOW TEMPERATURES.

SAMOK - I GOT IT - THE PATIENT IS GETTING THE WORKS FOR HEAT AND TRIPLE ANTIBIOTIC THERAPY ALSO WAS INITIATED. CRITICAL CARE WAS CALLED. WE ARE ON THE MEND.

DR. HANSONBEEN A LONG DAY - I GUESS THE BEARS COULD SAY THEY ARE ALSO ON THE MEND - GETTING CUTLER AND GETTING RID OF O.R. TON.

GLENDAI REALLY DON’T KNOW. KYLE PLAYED REALLY WELL THE LAST HALF OF THE BEARS SEASON - HE STRUGGLED A BIT AGAINST HOUSTON BUT HE HAD NO BLOCKING EITHER. LOVIE EVEN SAID HE PLAYED WELL ENOUGH FOR THE TEAM TO MAKE IT TO THE PLAYOFFS.

SAMWELL DOWN AT WEAGHMAN’S PARK, OUR 20 SOMETHING HANGOUT, WELL THERE HAS BEEN A FEW BRONCO FANS IN THERE - AND WELL THEY ALL SAID CUTLER’S POTENTIAL IS THE SKY BECAUSE OF HIS ARM - HOWEVER HIS HEAD ISN’T ALWAYS THERE. I THINK THE GUYS IN DENVER REALLY GOT TIRED OF CHANGING HIS DIAPERS AND HE WASN’T A FULL BLOODED LEADER.

GLENDAWELL HE ONLY WON ABOUT 30 % OF HIS GAMES IN COLLEGE AND HE HAD A LOSING RECORD IN DENVER. I’M NOT SOLD ON THIS TRADE YET. THERE HAD TO BE A REASON WHY DENVER’S NEW YOUNG COACH WANTED HIM TRADED.

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DR. HANSONI AGREE - O.R. TON MAY PLAY WELL FOR DENVER NEXT YEAR AND CUTLER WELL MAY NOT HAVE A GREAT YEAR - ONE DOESN’T KNOW. OUR DRAFT WAS PRETTY BORDERLINE. WE GAVE UP THE # 1 PICK FOR CUTLER.

GLENDABUT WE RECEIVED A GREAT DEFENSIVE LINEMAN IN GILBERT WHO LED THE COUNTRY IN SACKS, AND IGLESIAS FROM OKLAHOMA IS SECOND ALL TIME IN RECEIVING AT OU - WHICH IS SAYING SOMETHING.

DR. HANSONBUT NOT HAVING A REAL SUPERSTAR ATHLETE AT #1 MAY HURT US. I REALLY AM DOUBTFUL ABOUT CUTLER - REMEMBER GREEN BAY GOT THAT MONSTER NOSE TACKLE FROM BC.

GLENDAI WOULDN’T WORRY ABOUT GREEN BAY - I FEEL THEIR ERA IS OVER - AND THE NEW BEARS ERA IS UPON US. I REALLY DO. WE FINALLY MAY HAVE A QB THAT CAN THROW. LOVIE KNOWS MORE THAN WE DO ABOUT FOOTBALL - THOUGH AT TIMES IT MAY NOT APPEAR SO.

DR. HANSONI JUST GET TIRED OF WATCHING THE SAME OLD PLOW HORSE OFFENSE. WE’VE ALWAYS HAD DECENT DEFENSE. BUT THIS WHOLE THING REGARDING OFFENSE THROUGH THE YEARS HAS BEEN PATHETIC. OUR OTHER COACHES IN OTHER SPORTS AT LEAST GO AFTER FOLKS WHO CAN SCORE.

SAMRIGHT - LOU HAS AN OUTFIELD OF BRADLEY, FUKUDOME, ALFONSO, AND REED JOHNSON WHO CAN ALL HIT EVERYTHING. THE BLACKHAWKS EVEN SCORED THIS YEAR. AND LOOK AT THE GAME YESTERDAY AGAINST THE CELTICS - AMAZING - THE WHOLE TEAM IS SCORING - GUYS LIKE SALMONS, HINRICH, GORDON, ROSE, NOAH, TYRUS THOMAS, AND MILLER. THE ENTIRE BENCH HAS CONTRIBUTED. WOW WHAT IF DENG HADN’T BEEN INJURED ? WHO KNOWS HOW FAR WE WOULD HAVE GONE ?

GLENDAI AGREE - THE BABY BULLS COULD BE REALLY TOUGH NEXT YEAR. WE’LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS - AND WE’VE GOT A GREAT GROUP OF PRO BASKETBALL COACHES WHO ACTUALLY WORK TOGETHER.

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SAMI CANNOT WAIT UNTIL NEXT SEASON - THE BULLS WILL BE RIGHT UP THERE IN ATTENDANCE. THEY WILL GET A TON OF SUPPORT FROM THIS CITY.

DR. HANSONWELL WE PUSHED BOSTON TO THE LIMIT - THEY HAD TO PLAY WELL TO BEAT US AND WERE FORTUNATE SOME ROLE GUYS MADE SHOTS AT CRUCIAL TIMES FOR THEM.

SAMANYWAY WE ARE OFF TO THE ICU AND I’LL BE BACK TO SET UP THE NEXT CASE. WHAT IS IT ?

DR. HANSONJUST A PACK REMOVAL ON THE ABDOMINAL TRAUMA FROM FRIDAY NIGHT - HE SHOULD DO WELL. HE HAS ONLY HIMSELF TO BLAME SCREAMING AT A GIRL IN A SOUTH CHICAGO BAR AND GETTING BLOWN AWAY BY A SUPPOSED FRIEND.

SAMCOAGS ARE ALL NORMAL I HOPE.

DR. HANSONYES EVERYTHING HAS BEEN CORRECTED AND WE ARE ON THE GO.

GLENDASO SAM TELL ME WHAT IS GOING ON WITH KERI - IS THAT HER NAME ?

SAMOH YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW ?

GLENDAYES I DO - I’VE BEEN YOUR MOM IN THE O.R. SINCE YOU WERE IN MEDICAL SCHOOL.

SAMWELL SHE JUST WANTS TO MARRY. THAT IS ALL.

GLENDAWELL THAT IS A BIG DEAL - AND I CAN TELL SHE IS A WONDERFUL GIRL AND I CERTAINLY HOPE YOU ARE NOT LEADING HER ON AND THEN PLANNING A BIG DUMP.

DR. HANSONGLENDA - DON’T GET INTO THE RESIDENT’S PERSONAL LIFE - THEY HAVE ENOUGH PRESSURE WITH MONEY, JOBS, MALPRACTICE, BOARDS, THE WHOLE THING.

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GLENDAWELL I JUST THINK SINCE WE ALL WORK TOGETHER SO MUCH AND SO WELL - WE’D JUST LIKE A LITTLE INFORMATION.

SAMWELL WE REALLY WERE LIVING TOGETHER THIS PAST YEAR AND THEN SHE HAD A CATHOLIC MOMENT WHERE SHE FELT UNLESS THIS WAS GOING TO THE ALTER - WELL THEN WE SHOULDN’T BE TOGETHER LIKE THIS.

GLENDAI AGREE FULLY. YOU ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION. I SUPPORT KERI.

DR. HANSONGLENDA THIS ISN’T ABOUT TAKING SIDES - SAM IS MAKING A BIG DECISION. REMEMBER THE DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS STUFF. LET SAM MAKE HIS OWN DECISIONS. SAM AND KERI WILL WORK IT OUT - TRUST ME.

GLENDAWELL I’M JUST NOSY. SHE JUST SEEMS SO NICE AND I’D HATE TO SEE YOU TWO WANDER.

SAMMY CELL JUST WENT OFF - ONE OF KERI’S SISTERS IS REALLY SICK AND KERI IS BRINGING HER TO COOK COUNTY.

GLENDAGREAT - WE WILL GET HER BETTER AND I’LL GET TO TALK TO KERI. BUT I AM WORRIED SAM. MAYBE LET THE JUNIOR RESIDENT TAKE THE NEXT TRAUMA BRING BACK.

SAM

GOT IT - SEE YOU TOMORROW. KEEP THE ROOMS WARM.

ENd-cHAPTEr 7, cold rooms