Dr. John had been a physician his whole life, with decades of experience as a hospital director, and he had never before been so publicly challenged by a young woman. In his frustration, he slammed his medical bag down and barked, “Outrageous! Where did this insolent girl come from? You’ve only studied medicine for a few years, and yet you dare claim that hemorrhaging shouldn’t be stopped but diverted? Staunching blood flow is the most logical approach! If we were to ‘redirect’ it as you say, wouldn’t it flow faster, like a river rushing out of control? Such recklessness would only worsen the condition!”
Mr. James was bewildered, unable to comprehend how they’d ended up in such a heated disagreement. Both of them made convincing points, yet they were entirely contradictory: Dr. John believed the bleeding should be stopped, while Sophia argued against it. Each approach could drastically impact Mrs. James’s treatment.
Sophia respected seasoned doctors like Dr. John, but medicine was not a field where respect for hierarchy should interfere with patient care. In front of a patient, right was right, and wrong was wrong. Every misdiagnosis carries the potential for fatal consequences, making it no small matter.
Standing her ground, Sophia replied, “Yes, Dr. John, I respect your experience, but Western and traditional medicine have different approaches. Western medicine prioritizes rapid results, so it seems logical to stop the bleeding quickly. However, this can plant hidden dangers for the patient. Without addressing the root cause, the issue will recur. That’s why I believe we shouldn’t stop the bleeding.”
“Ridiculous! Nonsense!” Dr. John’s face turned red with rage as he shouted, “Fine! If you think you know so much, then go ahead, show us your method!”
He was shouting so loudly that Scott Livinus, who had been waiting downstairs, heard the commotion and came up, stopping short of entering the room but standing at the end of the hallway to observe. Listening to the escalating argument, he began to wonder if he’d made a mistake bringing Sophia along.
Just then, the sound of the front door opening and footsteps approaching caught Scott’s attention. He looked up to see an elderly man, about the same age as Dr. John, walk in. The man was dressed in white training clothes, his head bald but his eyes lively, with a sprightly glow in his face and a pair of white whiskers on his upper lip.
The man spotted Scott and said in surprise, “Scott? When did you get back?”
Scott smiled and stepped forward to steady the elder’s arm. “Uncle Jack, I returned two days ago. I was planning to visit you soon.”
“I was just playing chess with your father the other day. He mentioned you were coming back. It seems like just a blink since you went abroad, but it’s been years.”
Scott smiled without responding, but as the sound of raised voices filtered out from the room, Jack glanced toward the doorway, confused. “Is Dr. John in there? What’s all this commotion?”
Scott shook his head. “It appears that the young lady I brought doesn’t agree with Director John’s treatment approach.”
“Oh?” Jack’s eyes brightened with interest. “A youngster bold enough to stand up to an old-timer like John? Promising!”
Scott chuckled. “Uncle Jack, don’t just stand back and enjoy the show. Once you’re inside, you should correct her if she’s in the wrong. Your guidance would be a blessing for her.”
Uncle Jack was a highly respected national physician, having treated many of the country’s leaders. In the field of traditional medicine, he was considered a leading figure.
Jack laughed and said, “Since when did you take such an interest in a young woman, Scott? Is she your girlfriend?”
Scott was momentarily taken aback and quickly clarified, “Not at all—she’s my nephew’s wife. You’re mistaken, Uncle Jack.”
“Your nephew’s wife? Which nephew?”
“Scott Henry’s.”
“Oh, him!”
Jack simply nodded and didn’t say more, though he shook his head a bit as he walked into the room.
Inside, the argument continued unabated, with each firmly sticking to their viewpoint. Sophia wanted to administer her treatment to Mrs. James, while Dr. John refused, claiming that it would interfere with his regimen.
Suddenly, the door opened, and Dr. John pointed toward it, saying, “Jack, you’ve come just in time! See what kind of youngsters are coming out of the traditional medicine world these days!”
Jack gave Sophia an appraising smile, and she quickly greeted him, “Dr.Jack, it was Dr. John who dismissed traditional medicine, saying it couldn’t handle serious illnesses.”
Dr. John’s face turned beet red. He had indeed said something along those lines, but not in front of Jack, a renowned traditional physician. Sophia’s words exposed him on the spot, leaving him fuming with embarrassment as he scowled and stormed off to the side.
Jack chuckled and began opening his medical kit as he asked, “I heard you all discussing the cause of the hemorrhaging. Have you concluded?”
He looked at Sophia expectantly, and under his steady gaze, she straightened, entirely focused. Though she didn’t know his credentials, his strong presence suggested he was a highly skilled physician. Earning his recognition would only benefit her.
Sophia began, “From Mrs. James’s pulse, I can tell she has Low energy. Before the hemorrhaging, she likely experienced prolonged menstrual bleeding, with irregular periods of varying duration.”
Dr Jack wasn’t surprised and nodded with a smile. “Go on.”
“Additionally…” Sophia knew he was testing her, so she continued calmly, “Although the severe bleeding only started seven days ago, it wasn’t sudden or random. If I’m not mistaken, Mrs. James likely underwent intensive nutritional supplementation before the hemorrhaging began.”
At this, Jack’s expression shifted, and he looked over at Mr. James. “Mr. James, is what this young lady is saying correct?”
Mr. James had been holding back, eager to speak, as each of Sophia’s statements had struck a nerve.
“Yes, yes! Everything she said is spot-on! My wife’s menstrual cycle has always been long—sometimes eight or nine days, sometimes half a month, and it never fully stops. Recently, she saw a doctor for her irregular periods, and they prescribed some medication to stop the bleeding, which worked quickly. I thought the issue was resolved and, as recommended by the doctor, bought a range of supplements for her. Wait… are you saying her hemorrhaging is related to this?”
Sophia nodded. “What may seem like unrelated factors are often connected. The same holds true for our bodies. Every action taken toward the body induces change. Excessive supplementation can backfire if the root issue isn’t addressed. Attempting to stop bleeding without identifying the cause—and then adding intense nutrition—can certainly worsen the situation.”
Mr. James’s face turned pale with worry, and he pleaded, “Young lady, Dr. Jack, Dr. John, please, you must find a solution! My wife can’t hold on much longer!”
