The baby had its eyes closed, and its lips looked blue. There were no signs of spontaneous breathing.
Taeho’s heart lurched.
No! Baby! You have to breathe!
The moment Taeho placed his hand on the baby, it felt as if an electric current was flowing. It felt as if the scene before his eyes was distorting.
Just like when he had diagnosed Minsu and No Seongjin, his ability, [Patient Synesthesia], had activated.
‘The heart is beating, but the respiratory center hasn’t fully awakened yet. Also, there’s amniotic fluid remaining in the airway.’
The baby’s vital signs transmitted through his fingertips. Not merely what was visible to the eye, but the circulatory state within the body, nerve responses, and even the condition of the airway could be felt.
Rema displayed information in a hologram before his eyes.
- No spontaneous breathing, no crying
- Estimated APGAR score: 4–5 (heart rate present, muscle tone weak, breathing absent, reflex weak, skin color cyanosis)
- Vital signs: Heart rate 80–100 beats per minute, respiration 0/minute
- Skin color: Central cyanosis confirmed
Golden Minute. The first minute is crucial.
Taeho immediately placed the baby on a warm blanket and first began gently rubbing its back.
‘Amniotic fluid remains around the nose and mouth. And the tongue’s position is blocking the airway.’
Taeho slightly tilted the baby’s head back to secure the airway. At the same time, he gently wiped around the nose and mouth. All these motions were performed accurately and swiftly by intuition.
Taeho placed his hand on the baby’s chest. The heartbeat could be felt, but it was weak. Yet the moment his hand touched, the baby’s circulatory state was transmitted even more clearly.
‘The heart rate is gradually rising. Oxygen supply is slowly improving. But to induce spontaneous breathing……’
The [Patient Synesthesia] ability detected the optimal stimulation point.
Taeho lightly flicked the baby’s sole with his index finger.
Tap, tap.
“Now, you need to cry out loud.”
Taeho’s intuition detected the changes in the baby’s nerve responses in real time. He could even feel the process of the sole stimulus transmitting through the spinal cord to the brain stem.
10 seconds…… 15 seconds…… 20 seconds……
“Come on, baby. Now you have to breathe.”
Taeho gently rubbed the baby’s back up and down with a warm gauze. He massaged in circles along the spine.
Still, there was no response.
Taeho lightly flicked the baby’s sole with his index finger again.
Tap, tap.
“Please breathe.”
A prayer flowed involuntarily from Taeho’s lips.
“Mmm…….”
The baby’s body trembled slightly.
Taeho immediately began rubbing the baby’s back more vigorously. Up and down, left and right, drawing circles. He stimulated at the exact timing to match the baby’s respiratory rhythm.
“Come on, cry. You have to say hello to the world.”
“Mmm……. Mm…….”
The baby’s mouth opened slightly, and a small sound came out.
Taeho flicked the baby’s sole once more. This time, a little harder.
Tap!
At that moment—
“Waaah, waaah!”
The baby’s weak but definite cry echoed inside the ambulance.
Taeho closed his eyes, exhaling a sigh of relief.
“Waaah! Waaah!”
The baby’s cries were growing louder and louder. Its face was turning a healthy pink.
“Good job, Max. You did really well.”
Taeho wrapped the baby in a warm blanket and placed it on Anna’s chest. The baby’s cries were now strong and vigorous.
“Waaah! Waaah!”
Hot tears streamed from Anna’s eyes. Her husband was holding his wife’s hand tightly. His face was also covered in tears.
Taeho checked his watch. The baby had burst into tears just 35 seconds after birth.
The baby had successfully started breathing within the Golden Minute.
“Congratulations. It’s a healthy baby boy.”
Deep relief and joy were mixed in Taeho’s voice.
Just then, the ambulance arrived at the hospital, and the obstetrics medical team was already waiting.
“Yes, this is an emergency delivery inside the ambulance.”
Taeho began the handover between medical staff.
“The mother had premature labor after a traffic accident. Second-degree perineal tear, bleeding approximately 400 mL. Vitals stable: BP 110/70, HR 95, RR 20. The newborn is a male; there was a nuchal cord during delivery, but it was resolved. APGAR score 8. Heart rate 140, breathing good, skin color normal. Placenta not yet delivered, umbilical cord uncut.”
Taeho carefully handed the baby over to the medical staff.
“Of special note, the mother had lower limb compression inside the vehicle, but rescue was completed about 20 minutes ago, after which spontaneous labor progressed. Additional examinations will likely be needed.”
The obstetrician nodded and spoke.
“Thank you for organizing it so precisely. We will transfer directly to the neonatal unit.”
“We will attend to the mother first. It will be reflected in the records.”
Taeho took Anna’s hand one last time.
“Anna, Max is a really strong child. You also did very well, Mom. Now don’t worry and rest.”
Anna smiled with effort.
“Doctor, thank you so much.”
“Thank you. Doctor. Thank you.”
Anna’s husband thanked him repeatedly.
The medical staff transported Anna and the baby inside the hospital, and Taeho looked at the paramedic.
“What is the status of the remaining patients?”
“Everyone was safely transported to the hospital. Thanks to you, the patients are all stable. Good work.”
Taeho exhaled a sigh of relief at the situation that had safely passed the crisis.
***
Anna’s husband was watching the baby through the nursery window with a happy smile. Max was sleeping peacefully, and his wife was also recovering safely.
Just then, a man approached him.
“Hello, I am Pierre Dubois, a reporter for the Tribune Suisse. Is it true that you had a delivery at today’s traffic accident scene?”
“That’s right. It was an unbelievable experience.”
Anna’s husband smiled and nodded.
The reporter asked with a curious expression.
“How was such a thing possible?”
Anna’s husband felt tears suddenly welling up. Today’s events could only be explained as a miracle. They had been on their way to the hospital to deliver the baby when they got into a traffic accident. At the most desperate moment in his life, a doctor appeared at the scene and saved their family.
He would never forget today until the day he died.
He smiled and opened his mouth to the reporter.
“At that moment, it was as if God had borrowed the body of an Eastern doctor to save my family. His name was Gang Taeho. If it weren’t for him, neither our Max nor my wife would be in this world right now.”
He began to recount the story one by one with a trembling voice, and the reporter seriously jotted it down, appearing deeply impressed.
***
WHO Headquarters meeting room.
“I will report the reason Doctor Gang Taeho is absent from today’s awards ceremony.”
When Assistant Director Sarah Mitchell handed over the documents, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom set down his coffee cup and slowly unfolded the paper.
“On his way to the awards ceremony, Dr. Gang happened to pass the scene of a traffic accident that occurred in downtown Geneva and personally carried out rescue and an emergency delivery.”
“A delivery, personally?”
The Director-General raised his head.
“Yes. The pregnant woman was in critical condition due to a vehicle collision, and in the emergency situation, he quickly recognized and managed placental abruption and a nuchal cord issue. Immediately after birth, he also promptly addressed the newborn’s apnea and induced spontaneous breathing.”
Assistant Director Sarah carefully spread several scene photos on the conference table. They showed a severely crushed vehicle and Gang Taeho, his shirt stained with blood, holding the hand of the trapped mother inside the car.
“Both the mother and baby were safely transported to Geneva University Hospital and are recovering. The media is also reporting it as breaking news.”
Tedros, who had been silent for a moment, picked up one photo and quietly looked at it. An Asian doctor who had thrown off his tuxedo and rolled up his shirt sleeves to rush to the scene. He exuded a strangely urgent and distinct life-force aura.
“This award is originally given for the innovative application of medical technology. But today, he proved that technology in the field.”
The Director-General raised his head and looked around at the meeting attendees.
“Countless medical professionals create innovation in laboratories and on paper. But he risked his life to apply that technology today in the middle of the street.”
A director who had been listening spoke.
“In effect, instead of the awards ceremony, he demonstrated the meaning of the award through actual practice.”
Tedros nodded.
“Please convey to Doctor Gang Taeho. Tell him that today, his response is something the entire WHO is proud of, and it will be recorded as a case that showed the true meaning of the ‘Innovative Medical Technology Award.’ And……”
Director-General Tedros paused for a moment and then smiled warmly.
“Send the WHO’s congratulations to the baby born today and the mother as well. Tell them that the doctor they met is truly a special person.”
The meeting room was briefly engulfed in silence. Many among them were doctors with clinical experience, so they remembered the joy and emotion of saving a patient.
With warm hearts, they connected Doctor Gang Taeho with that very emotion.
***
The next morning, Airport
Taeho had come to the airport to return to Korea without having attended the awards ceremony after all.
Just as he was entering the airport entrance, his phone vibrated. It was a text message from Anna’s husband.
—Doctor, Anna and Max are both healthy. The hospital praised your emergency treatment as perfect. Our family will be grateful to Doctor Gang for life. We would like to make Max’s middle name ‘Taeho.’ Max Taeho Müller, does that sound good to you?
Unexpected words.
For a moment, Taeho’s eyes grew moist. In that brief moment, he felt deep emotion and swelling pride. It was a greater honor than any awards ceremony or certificate.
Just then, someone shouted from the other side of the airport lobby.
“There he is! It’s Doctor Gang!”
Flashes exploded, and soon dozens of reporters surged forward like a tidal wave with cameras and microphones.
“You are Doctor Gang Taeho, correct?”
“It is said that you performed a delivery yourself at yesterday’s accident scene!”
“What were the conditions of the baby and mother?”
“It is said that the WHO presented you with an award, and there are assessments that you gave more inspiration at the scene than at the ceremony. Please share your thoughts!”
“Are you not disappointed that you couldn’t attend the awards ceremony?”
Camera flashes blazed blindingly, and microphones poured in front of Taeho’s mouth. Taeho paused for a moment. His shoulders tensed, but he soon slowly inhaled and smiled gently.
“I am merely a doctor who was there at that place.”
Taeho looked straight ahead and quietly continued.
“Any doctor would have acted the same if there was a life before their eyes.”
The reporters’ shutter sounds subsided.
“The mother and baby. Both are safe. That is all. I am truly grateful for just that fact.”
When Taeho stopped speaking, a young reporter cautiously asked.
“Doctor Gang, how do you feel right now?”
Taeho fell into thought for a moment, then slowly nodded and answered.
“Being in a position to protect a person’s life. In that moment, I remembered once again why I became a doctor.”
His voice was not loud, but it spread like a reverberation throughout the airport. Several of the reporters silently nodded from behind their cameras.