Adaline rushed halfway down the hospital corridor towards her mother's ward. She was in a panic, scared. Earlier, Emma had contacted her with sobs still audible, despite the woman's attempts to hold them back. Her mother was critical, and she was asked to come to the hospital immediately. Hastily, she sought permission from her boss, honestly stating that she needed to see her mother's condition.
Adaline arrived at her mother's hospital room. Every time she was there, she felt regret for not being able to provide the best facilities for the woman who raised her. Instead of giving her mother comfort by renting a VVIP or VIP room, Adaline allowed her to be treated in a room shared with three other patients.
Adaline desperately wanted to give her mother comfort, but their finances were dwindling day by day. This was all she could afford. It's not that she wasn't trying, but she had to adjust everything to their circumstances. All the money from her father's allowance had been used for her mother's treatment, as well as Adaline's savings for the last three years. Her monthly salary was spent on their everyday needs.
Adaline reached her mother's bed, situated in the corner and directly facing Emma. "How is she, Aunt?" she asked, trying to speak as calmly as possible.
"The doctor said the bleeding in your mother's liver and kidneys is severe. They need to perform surgery as soon as possible."
"Surgery?" Adaline asked in disbelief, and Emma nodded slowly, shedding tears again. Her mother was now asleep. Her hair, which had somehow turned white in the last three years, looked messy. Adaline had to remove the headscarf her mother usually wore to avoid obstructing the oxygen tube now attached beneath her nose.
Adaline pulled her chair closer, reaching out to gently stroke her mother's cold forehead before giving her a soft kiss. Adaline turned her attention back to Emma.
"What kind of surgery?"
"I don't really understand, but the doctor said they need to remove blood clots from your mother's liver and fix her damaged kidneys," Emma continued sadly.
Adaline could only stare in shock. Surgery? she thought sadly. Was her mother's condition really that serious? Why did they only find out about it now? Didn't her mother regularly go for check-ups for the past two years? Then what were the medications she had been taking all this time?
"Who is the responsible doctor?" Emma mentioned the doctor's name, and immediately Adaline went to the receptionist to find the whereabouts of that doctor for consultation.
Following the receptionist's instructions, Adaline finally found the doctor in the surgical and specialist section. Adaline knocked on the door, which was promptly answered by a voice from inside.
A doctor around fifty looked at her over square-shaped glasses. "I'm Adaline, Mrs. Violet's daughter," she introduced herself, met with a nod from the doctor.
"Please, have a seat," he requested. After Adaline sat down, the doctor turned on the X-ray result reader and placed a black and white image on it. "We've conducted X-rays, followed by a CT scan, and we've found surprising results. Inside your mother's heart, there's a spot that's actually growing larger. Not a tumor, but a blood clot due to the impact of the accident that happened to your mother two years ago." The doctor pointed to a spot the size of a peanut. "And her kidneys have suffered more severe damage." He indicated another point that was larger.
"But my mother has been regularly going for check-ups. How could this happen?"
"There are two possibilities. Either your mother's doctor misdiagnosed, or the second possibility, your mother already knew her condition but chose to remain silent. Because our recommendation, as doctors, is that surgery must be performed. Perhaps, for the heart, it can still be managed with blood-thinning medication. But considering your mother's age, it's very vulnerable. And for her kidneys, we can't handle it anymore. It needs to be completely removed because it's malfunctioning," the doctor continued with sadness.
"What about my mother's condition? Is it possible? What about the postoperative side effects?"
"We are still evaluating. Your mother's age is not young, and her physical condition is not fit. We also need to assess her heart condition; her concentration on anesthesia needs consideration."
"And the success rate?"
"We have the best team in the city. We will do our best. The rest, we leave it to the Almighty. Of course, the patient's desire to recover is also one of the determining factors."
"And the cost?"
"Please consult with the administrative staff."
"When does the operation need to be done?"
"After assessing your mother's condition, if she remains stable in the next two days, then we can perform the operation two days later." Adaline nodded.
"Okay, doc. Do your best for my mother. She's all I have. I beg you," she pleaded. The doctor gently cupped Adaline's hands.
"We always strive to do our best. Additionally, pray for your mother's safety and health. That plays a significant role." The man spoke with authority. Adaline nodded in agreement. Afterward, she rose from the doctor's room and went to the administrative office.
After discussing with the administrative staff, Adaline finally learned that the estimated cost she had to bear was equivalent to the price of a brand-new car. The surgery cost, excluding her mother's medication and care, was indeed staggering. Her mother didn't have insurance, and government health coverage didn't cover such operations. Meanwhile, Adaline had nothing else to sell except for the house she currently occupied. However, even if she mortgaged the house to the bank, with all the administrative system complexities, it would take time for the money to be disbursed.
Borrowing from loan sharks? The thought immediately made her shake her head vigorously. Adaline wasn't sure if loan sharks would lend hundreds of millions like that. And which loan shark did she even know? She had never known people like that.
Adaline's thoughts focused on one person: Haris. Yes, she could try contacting Haris and ask for his help. At least, he might assist her in finding the loan she needed. Even if the repayment period stretched out for a lifetime, Adaline would do it as long as she could secure her mother's recovery.
Adaline reached for her phone and called Haris. On the fourth ring, he finally answered.
"Hello?" he greeted in a whispered tone.