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Just like audio mixing, so things can't be learned from books alone—you need hands-on practice. In dicine especially, books serve more as supplents or foundational material.
Without clinical experience, all Henry had managed was to morize anatomy charts and acupuncture diagrams. Everything else was a muddle.
The only area where his skills might be useful was in handling visible trauma—bleeding or fractures. With his X-ray vision, he could instantly pinpoint a bleed; after that, it was just a matter of stopping it.
But Audrey Hepburn's condition was far beyond what a Kryptonian amateur could understand. From Switzerland to New York, and then on to Los Angeles, it wasn't until the doctors at Cedars-Sinai convened that the source of the illness was finally identified.
Seated in the consultation room, the attending physician explained the diagnosis to Ms. Hepburn and Robert Wolders.
Henry, left waiting in the hallway, quietly relied on his super-hearing and vision to catch every word.
"Ms. Hepburn, our laparoscopy confird this is an extrely rare abdominal cancer, known as pseudomyxoma peritonei, or PMP for short.
"It is most often triggered by a primary tumor in the appendix. The cancer cells produce a large amount of mucus-like fluid, which over years slowly accumulates, coating the intestines and forming tumors.
"These tumors cause fibrosis, blocking the function of digestive organs. If untreated, the growing mucus and tumors will eventually fill the abdominal cavity, compressing the organs and destroying the functions of the colon, small intestine, stomach, and more.
"Fortunately, at present the cancer is still at an early stage of Phase II. That ans the tumor has spread beyond the original site but has not yet reached the lymph nodes.
"In other words, we are optimistic about treatnt. Surgery to remove the affected area, followed by chemotherapy, gives you a very good chance of recovery.
"Without treatnt, though, the cancer could be fatal long before it spreads throughout the body—complications like scurvy, intestinal obstruction, or other issues could endanger your life.
"So from a dical standpoint, we strongly recomnd aggressive treatnt. With a successful surgery, regaining your health should not be a problem. However, because recurrence is possible, you will still need regular follow-ups afterward."
The doctor didn't mince words. After all, Hepburn had already sought help everywhere else before coming here.
If it had been simple, the earlier hospitals would have handled it. Better to be direct.
Audrey and Robert both remained remarkably calm.
Audrey Hepburn had lived through wars as a child; she had seen life and death up close. Even now, facing it herself, she remained serene.
Robert Wolders, anwhile, had already endured the loss of his first wife, rle Oberon, to illness in 1979. To him, this too was fate—follow the treatnt plan, and beyond that, it was out of their hands.
Without hesitation or consultation, Audrey said firmly:
"Doctor, I am willing to undergo surgery."
"Very well. Then we'll schedule the procedure for two days from now."
Imdiately, a nurse escorted her back to her private room.
From the start of the examinations, Hepburn had been admitted to the hospital, undergoing a full battery of tests at rapid pace.
Unlike ordinary hospitals, where you register, wait for appointnts, finish tests, return for more appointnts, then repeat for further tests, dragging things out endlessly—sotis long enough that a patient might die before treatnt even began—Cedars-Sinai worked fast.
Here, once you were admitted, tests were run back-to-back. As soon as results ca in, doctors explained them directly, almost like having a personal physician working only for you.
And in a sense, that was true. Cedars-Sinai maintained a very low doctor-to-patient ratio, which was why their care was so renowned. Patients here were either wealthy, powerful, or suffering from rare conditions that intrigued the doctors.
Given their speed, the surgery was set two days later only because abdominal operations required fasting. Otherwise, leftover food particles could complicate matters—and surgeons had no desire to play sewer-cleaner mid-surgery.
Back in her room, Audrey briefly explained her condition to her assistant. After all, Henry was always by her side—it would be wrong to keep him completely in the dark.
After listening, Henry asked, "Boss, should I notify anyone else?"
She thought for a mont, then replied:
"Let Sean and Luca know. No one else."
Her two sons—Sean Hepburn Ferrer and Luca Dotti—were the most important n in her life. Ex-husbands, friends, others? She didn't want to trouble them.
Henry had no objections. Leaving Robert at her side, he went to make the calls.
But of course, many still kept tabs on Hepburn. There were no paparazzi or reporters outside, but Henry's pager hardly stopped buzzing.
After more than a year as her assistant, Henry knew well who her close friends were. He only responded to those few, saying simply that Ms. Hepburn was receiving treatnt at Cedars-Sinai—nothing more.
Only Sean Ferrer and Luca Dotti were told about the surgery, set for two days later.
Both sons, naturally, cared deeply. They pressed for details, and Henry relayed exactly what Hepburn had told him.
By the end of the calls, both decided to book the earliest possible flights to Los Angeles.
For Sean, a film producer in Europe, that was simple—he could leave imdiately. For Luca, still a student, it ant requesting leave from university first.
But that was their responsibility. They were grown n. Henry was just an assistant, not the family's steward. There were limits to what he should handle.
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