A competent doctor can cure everything

Professor So began asking questions about Gyu-Beom’s tic disorder.

“When did the symptoms first start?”

The hospital director gently patted Gyu-Beom on the shoulder.

After hearing the backstory from Heo Son-hwi earlier, that small gesture now felt deeply poignant.

“Gyu-Beom, it’s okay if you don’t go into too much detail.”

“No, I’ll do it. I want to explain everything and get proper treatment.”

Taking a shaky breath, Gyu-Beom slowly began his story.

“When I think about it, I think the symptoms started during the winter break of my third year in middle school. Back then, I didn’t realize it was a medical condition. I would squint my eyes or make these throat-clearing sounds, but I just thought they were habits. Then I had to deliver the freshman speech at my high school.”

His voice started to waver.

“When I got up there, I felt so incredibly nervous. It was a new school far from home, so I didn’t know anyone. Everyone there was smart, and I saw them as competitors. Anyway, when I stood in front of the podium, I felt this overwhelming urge.”

“Overwhelming urge?”

“Yes. You know how hard it is to hold back a sneeze? Well, this was on a completely different level. It felt like there were dozens of bugs crawling on my face—who could stay still in that situation? And my throat felt like something was stuck, constantly tickling me.”

Hearing Gyu-Beom’s words, the hospital director looked visibly shaken.

“Eventually… yes. While holding the microphone in front of everyone staring at me, I ended up having a tic. My facial muscles twisted uncontrollably, and I made strange grunting sounds.”

As he spoke, Gyu-Beom stole a glance at his father.

However, the hospital director neither appeared displeased nor embarrassed. He simply looked silently at the floor.

Encouraged by this, Gyu-Beom continued his story.

“After that, everyone started avoiding me… and as my tics worsened, I naturally ended up dropping out of school.”

“I see. What treatments have you tried so far?”

This time, the hospital director answered for him.

“Pediatrics and adolescent medicine, then neurology at my own department. When those didn’t work, he started seeing a psychiatrist. Today is his first time trying traditional Korean medicine.”

He clicked his tongue softly before continuing.

“It’s embarrassing to admit, but even as a neurology professor, I couldn’t help my own son. All the tests showed no structural issues.”

“Professor, there’s no need to feel that way. Doctors aren’t omnipotent. That’s why collaboration between disciplines exists.”

“You’re right. I’ll admit I’m not well-versed in this area, but how does Korean medicine treat tics? In Western medicine, we consider it to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, but the exact cause is still unclear.”

Professor So patiently explained, ensuring even someone unfamiliar with Korean medicine could understand.

“In Korean medicine, vocal tics are often diagnosed as ‘maehakgi’ (a sensation of something stuck in the throat like a plum pit) or ‘Geonhae’ (dry cough). Motor tics resemble a condition called ‘Sundong’ (involuntary twitching). Stress is usually considered the primary cause. From what I’ve observed, it seems your son developed his tics in a highly stressful environment.”

“That’s correct. He’s quite timid and sensitive by nature.”

“Herbal prescriptions for tics typically aim to relax the tension in the muscles and nerves.”

“Do you offer treatments other than herbal medicine?”

“We recommend acupuncture three times a week as part of outpatient care. However, treatment usually takes months, so it’s important to have a long-term perspective.”

It seemed the father and son were already prepared for the commitment.

“We understand. We’ve been undergoing Western treatments for six months already. We’ll approach this like a marathon.”

“Joon hyung… I mean, Doctor, I’ll be in your care.”

Gyu-Beom bowed politely before leaving the consultation room.

As the hospital director followed him out, he suddenly turned to look at me.

“Intern, I don’t know how you did it, but… thank you so much. It’s the first time he’s come out like that instead of just staying at home. And it’s the first time I’ve heard what’s been going on inside his heart. Hearing about the situation when he has a tic, I can’t help but wonder how much he must have suffered.”

The director spoke with red eyes, his voice heavy with emotion.

After the director left, Professor So grabbed me and began firing questions at me.

“Doctor, how did this happen? How did the hospital director’s son end up here? I heard the symptoms weren’t improving and that all the other professors at Hanbit University Hospital had given up.”

“Well, that’s…”

“Moreover, I heard the child was so reluctant to leave the house and was passive about treatment that the hospital director was going through a lot of mental anguish. Just bringing him here is already half a success.”

I told Professor So the story of meeting Gyu-Beom at the apartment, leaving out the parts about the novel, and explaining the ‘maehakgi’ diagnosis and how I recommended Korean medicine treatment.

“I see… Doctor, it seems like you communicate well with kids. It looks like you’ve already built a rapport with Gyu-Beom, and with you, maybe the treatment will progress smoothly.”

Professor So admired my work but remained cautious.

“However, given how severe his condition is, it won’t be easy to treat. If he’s even speaking words, it sounds like ‘complex vocal tics.’”

“That’s right. The fact that the onset was closer to adulthood isn’t helpful either.”

“How do you want to approach the treatment?”

“His timid nature suggests ‘Damheo’, and his high stress points to ‘Gangiukyeolgyeol’. It looks like Gyu-Beom’s condition is a combination of those, leading to ‘Tamhwa’. Therefore, I will prescribe ‘Cheongsimwontam-tang’.”

For tic disorders, treatments typically calm excitability and reduce muscle spasms and tension. ‘Cheongsimwontam-tang’ also has antidepressant and anxiolytic effects, and it’s used for conditions like seizures.

“What acupuncture points will you use?”

“For relieving spasms, I’ll target points like ‘Hapgok’ (It is located on the hand, between the thumb and index finger.) and ‘Taechung’ (It is located on the top of the foot, in the depression between the first and second toes), and for stress relief, I’ll focus on ‘Baekhoe’ (It is located at the top of the head, on the midline of the scalp) and ‘Sinmun’ (It is located on the wrist, on the crease of the palm side, in line with the little finger.).”

“Sounds like a good plan. I agree. Let’s start the treatment that way.”

Professor So readily confirmed the treatment plan.

Soon, the future appeared on the chart in golden letters, showing the results for a week later.

As expected, there were no significant changes. But I didn’t feel anxious or frustrated.

‘Gyu-Beom has developed the will to overcome it himself.’

I think Director Myung will also change a little from today onward.

So, my role is to trust them and continue with the treatment silently.

—

In the Korean Medicine Rehabilitation Department.

Shim Ji-seop looked serious as he stared at his laptop, while Heo Son-hwi and I sat next to him, anxiously waiting.

We were showing the raw data from the ‘Sambok-cheop’ treatment that we had compiled.

“How is it?”

We were seeking feedback on whether this data was suitable for a paper.

Shim Ji-seop took his eyes off the screen and spoke up.

“The sample size is sufficient, and the indicators look good. The organization is neat as well. Who did this?”

Heo Son-hwi excitedly spoke up with a bright face.

“From the planning of the paper to the data organization, Seon-Joon did almost all of it. He’s a real genius, a genius!”

Shim Ji-seop looked at me with interest.

“Isn’t Seon-Joon also working as a team doctor?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Then why haven’t you come to borrow the ultrasound equipment recently?”

“I’ll borrow it when I really need it.”

It feels a bit strange to keep borrowing someone else’s department’s equipment when it’s not even for rehab.

“Actually, I thought about purchasing it personally, but the price…”

“How much is it?”

Heo Son-hwi curiously asked, following my murmured response.

Shim Ji-seop kindly answered for me.

“Cheap ones are a few hundred, and the expensive ones are over a thousand.”

“Yikes!”

Yeah. So I immediately gave up on the idea.

With my tiny intern salary, it’s impossible.

“Do you get enough sleep? I heard you’re still working on your case papers.”

“Even so, I don’t neglect my intern duties or my work as a primary doctor. I’m a complete perfectionist.”

“Ah. I heard too. You’re also treating the medical director’s son.”

As I overheard the two seniors talking about me, I shook my head.

“The treatment for Gyu-Beom will take a long time. The child in the ward is still undergoing treatment as well.”

“Ah, right! So, Mr. Seon, what do you think Morgan’s diagnosis is? I’m really curious.”

“I have a suspected diagnosis, but it’s not certain yet.”

I withheld my answer to Heo Son-hwi’s question.

Then, Shim Ji-seop, with a smile in his eyes, unexpectedly gave me a compliment.

“With someone like Seon-Joon, you’ll definitely succeed in treatment and have another case study to write about.”

The way he said it made me sound like a psychopath hunting humans for trophies.

…Of course, if the treatment works well, I will use it for a case study.

I didn’t respond and just shrugged my shoulders.

—

Fifth day of hospitalization, morning.

Morgan’s mother watched her still-sleeping child.

Her child had refused to eat, which led to the hospitalization, and she wondered what was going on.

Looking at the sleeping child, the woman murmured weakly.

“Morgan, please listen to your mom. That’s the only way I’ll be okay.”

Since being hospitalized, the child’s eating speed had improved and the tantrums were fewer.

But since there hadn’t been any noticeable improvement yet, she was starting to feel exhausted.

She recalled the ambiguous words the primary doctor had said.

“There will be a change soon. At first, it was hard to grasp Morgan’s condition from a traditional medicine perspective, but after observing him every day, I understand now. There was a reason it was difficult to figure out.”

“I don’t really know what that means, but I’ll trust and wait… Maybe I should just discharge him soon.”

At that moment, her phone rang. It was her husband calling.

She quickly left the room to avoid waking up the child and answered the phone.

– Honey, how is Morgan doing?

“If you’re curious, why don’t you come to the hospital?”

Her husband had never visited the hospital before.

Her words came out sharp, tinged with disappointment.

– You know I’ve been working late every day.

“Then how about the weekend?”

– This weekend, I have to go hiking with my boss. I have to keep him happy, so I can’t skip it.

There was a brief silence between them. Morgan’s mother spoke up first.

“Are you eating properly?”

– I usually skip breakfast, but I have lunch and dinner at the office. Anyway, I have to go to work now. I’ll hang up.

After the short call, the woman bitterly stared at the phone screen.

Yeah, when was the last time she had a meal with her husband?

It hadn’t always been like this.

In the early days of their marriage, when Morgan was younger, they had a much more harmonious family life.

‘Things started changing after my husband got promoted quickly.’

Her husband, now deeply invested in his work, was almost obsessed with his job.

Whenever she confided in a friend about her worries, she was just met with dismissive responses.

“Hey! At least your husband brings home a good salary. Do you think love lasts forever? That’s how everyone lives.”

Does that mean she would have to live the coming days like this, in shades of gray?

Thinking about that, Morgan’s mother felt suffocated.

When she returned to the hospital room, Morgan was already awake. The woman quickly brightened her expression.

“Morgan.”

“Morgan, you’re awake?”

Soon, the hospital staff began pushing carts down the hallway, distributing meal trays to each room.

And now, another long and tedious battle was about to begin.

“Morgan, let’s eat.”

But…

Hmm? Morgan’s mother blinked in surprise.

Morgan was eating his food without fuss.

“Can I have more of this?”

He even asked for more side dishes.

Thanks to this, the meal was finished in less than an hour.

Morgan’s mother covered her mouth with her hand, overwhelmed with emotion.

* * *

“Well, when Morgan ate breakfast this morning…”

During morning rounds, Morgan’s mother excitedly told the professor and primary doctor about what happened.

“Normally, he would spend one or two hours just holding onto the meal tray, but today, he finished in less than an hour. Just like the primary doctor said, there’s a change. How did you manage to time it so perfectly?”

The young primary doctor smiled calmly at Morgan’s mother’s astonishment.

Professor So Cheong-Yeon was also about to speak in a good mood.

“Then we’ll proceed with this treatment plan and aim for discharge this weekend as scheduled…”

“Wait a moment. I have something I’d like to say.”

At that moment, the primary doctor intervened in the professor’s words. Everyone turned to look at him in surprise.

“How about extending Morgan’s hospitalization for a few more days?”

“What? Extend it here?”

Morgan’s mother, as well as Professor So, gaped in shock.

However, Primary Doctor Lee Joon calmly explained.

“Mrs, do you remember the CEBQ questionnaire that Morgan completed when he was admitted?”

“Oh, yes, he scored 65 back then.”

“If we take the test again now, the score will be in the 70s. But if we discharge him now, his condition will stagnate at that level.”

“R-Really?”

“Instead of discharging him now, let’s aim for a score of 100 during the extended hospitalization and continue with treatment. Please think about it.”

Professor So, leading the rounds, left the room and asked Lee Seon-Joon.

He was slightly irritated by the primary doctor’s sudden actions.

“Dr. Seon, it’s impressive that you predicted when the patient would improve, but extending the hospitalization? Could you explain what you’re thinking?”

“When effects show, there are times when the prescription needs to be maintained, and times when it needs to be changed. Right now, it seems like the latter.”

“So, you haven’t really found the cause yet?”

“That’s right. There’s still something else going on.”

The primary doctor began explaining with a confident tone.

“Mm?”

As he listened, Professor So’s anger gradually subsided.