The emergency room doors burst open. A nurse rushes in pushing a stretcher.
“Forty-two year old male. Fever, rash, weakness.”
Dr. Leonard Kind walks in smiling warmly, holding two cups of tea.
“Hello my friends,” he says gently. “How is our brave patient today?”
The patient groans. “I think I’m dying.”
Dr. Kind nods with deep concern. “Yes. That can happen.”
The team of residents look nervous. One whispers, “It’s probably strep or something simple.”
Dr. Kind studies the chart upside down.
“Hm,” he says thoughtfully. “Classic signs of… catastrophic blood failure.”
A resident hesitates. “Doctor… his temperature is 38.”
Dr. Kind pats his shoulder kindly. “Numbers can be misleading.”
He turns to the patient.
“Good news,” he says with a reassuring smile. “We will remove your spleen.”
“But my spleen is fine,” the patient says weakly.
Dr. Kind squeezes his hand.
“Your positivity is inspiring.”
Cut to the hallway.
Two nurses are watching through the glass.
“He’s going to kill that guy, right?” one says.
“Oh absolutely,” the other replies. “But honestly? Sweetest man in the hospital.”
Back in the room.
A resident gathers courage.
“Doctor… the throat swab just came back. It’s strep.”
Dr. Kind beams.
“Wonderful! That confirms my theory.”
“What theory?”
“That the infection will soon spread to the spleen we are about to remove.”
He gently adjusts the patient’s blanket.
“Don’t worry. You’re in very caring hands.”
The monitor flatlines.
Dr. Kind sighs sadly.
“Medicine is such a mysterious science.”
Cut to the staff lounge later.
The hospital administrator speaks to the staff.
“Unfortunately we lost another patient today.”
Everyone looks down.
Then the administrator adds:
“But Dr. Kind baked muffins for everyone.”
The room brightens.
One nurse smiles.
“He really is a wonderful person.”