Chapter 5 – Becoming Ike’s Savior (1)

Major John Eisenhower’s hospital room.

‘I need to know what on earth is going on to deal with it, right? Of all things, why am I the attending physician? I haven’t even seen the patient……’

Kim Ji-hyuk sighed and hesitated in front of the hospital room.

It was at that moment.

“Doctor! What are you doing there?”

Eisenhower made his appearance holding a cup of coffee in one hand. He was walking over with his entourage.

With his face deeply frowned.

“General, hello!”

“What do you mean General? I am not the President yet. I am merely in the position of President-elect.”

Ike spoke with a very stiff face, as if he was still in a bad mood.

“Ah, yes.”

“Don’t just stand there, let’s go in.”

‘I’m completely screwed. Am I going to get kicked out at this rate?’

“Your Excellency, first I would like to offer my apologies. I am truly sorry for not taking proper care of Major John.”

Kim Ji-hyuk bowed politely to Eisenhower.

“Huhuhu, do not say that. I am already dying of shame for asking to pull John to the rear, so we can’t make a fuss just because his backside hurts a little. Besides, you said there was an urgent patient, didn’t you?”

Concerned that his son John might be captured while serving on the front lines, Eisenhower had requested the UN Commander to reassign John to the rear.

Although it was a rational decision, Eisenhower could not have felt comfortable making such a request given the wartime situation.

Was he in a bad mood in various ways for that reason then?

Kim Ji-hyuk tilted his head while studying Eisenhower’s still stiff expression.

“Yes. That is true, but……”

“Does a soldier with a bullet through his chest on the battlefield take priority, or does my son with a little pus in his backside take priority? This is wartime. Surely you understand the priorities without me having to point them out, right?”

“Yes, General.”

Kim Ji-hyuk could not help but admire Eisenhower’s resolute attitude.

“Let’s go in. My foolish son is looking for you very much.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

Like that, Kim Ji-hyuk entered the hospital room together with Eisenhower.

“It’s good to have good luck!”

As soon as Eisenhower entered, he sat down and wore a cynical expression.

‘Ugh, it looks like he’s being gouged with an awl!’

Ike couldn’t even sit properly on the chair. Wincing in pain, he only rested half of his buttocks on the chair.

“You’ve arrived.”

At that, John sat up in bed.

“Doctor, it looks like that fellow has a boil on his buttocks, is he alright?”

‘Did they say it was hemorrhoids and a perianal abscess……’

“Yes. Let me take a look. Your Excellency, could you step outside for a moment……”

“I’m the one who changed all his dirty diapers when he was little. Don’t worry about it and examine him.”

‘Oh, my stomach……’

Ike, who had been chuckling, stroked his stomach and wore a pained expression again.

And then,

“Aide!”

“Yes.”

“Fill this cup with coffee for me.”

Ike called his aide and held out his cup.

“Yes, General!”

‘What? Why does he live with coffee in his mouth?’

Even when they greeted each other in front of the hospital room earlier, a strong scent of coffee drifted from Eisenhower. But before that smell could even dissipate, he was ordering coffee again.

“Doctor, do not mind me and continue what you were doing.”

“Yes. Major John, may I examine the affected area for a moment?”

“Of course.”

Like that, Kim Ji-hyuk examined the perianal area with Major John’s permission.

‘It looks like a common perianal abscess where an anal gland became inflamed and formed a pocket of pus……’

Judging by the multiple millet-sized holes around the anus, it was definitely a perianal abscess.

“Major, I apologize, but I will insert a finger.”

“Ugh, yes.”

Major John made a pained face even before he inserted it.

“Going in.”

Ji-hyuk inserted his finger deep into the anus while wearing a rubber glove. At that, Major John let out a short groan in pain.

‘It’s mild… It seems draining the abscess and using some antibiotics would be enough? Thank goodness it’s nothing serious.’

Ji-hyuk let out a sigh of relief.

That was the conclusion Kim Ji-hyuk reached after performing the digital rectal exam.

Fortunately, Major John’s anus was in better condition than expected.

“Major, I don’t think there will be any big issues. If you wash the area well and take antibiotics, you should get better within a few days.”

“Is that so? But this……”

Major John had a puzzled look.

“Why? Is there some problem?”

“Why does my whole body itch like this? Please look here.”

As Major John lifted his patient gown, red rashes were visible covering his body tightly.

‘Atopic dermatitis?’

“Wait a moment……”

“Is this also related to the hemorrhoids?”

Major John asked with a pained face.

‘No way……’

“Mmh, any other symptoms?”

“It is embarrassing, but my groin area is……”

Major John blushed in embarrassment.

“Could you show me?”

“Yes.”

When Major John lowered his pants, blisters were formed inside his groin.

‘Severe atopic dermatitis and even psoriasis……’

“Mmh, and besides that?”

“Sigh, this is the most uncomfortable one, but my vision is blurry and it feels like my eyesight has suddenly dropped. It also feels like mosquitoes are flying in front of my eyes……”

‘Mmh, if it’s visual impairment and floaters, it means there’s inflammation in the uvea… If it’s not an eye disease, such symptoms appear in ankylosing spondylitis… Wait. Ankylosing spondylitis??’

Perhaps reminded of something, Kim Ji-hyuk recalled the past.

* * *

“A forty-eight-year-old male patient, the diagnosis is Crohn’s disease. Keep a close eye on it.”

“Yes, Professor.”

“It is a truly dreadful chronic illness. It causes inflammation anywhere a hole exists, from the esophagus to the anus. That is the difference that distinguishes it from ulcerative colitis.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Is that all? It also comes with atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and ankylosing spondylitis. Because of those, inflammation also occurs in the uvea… Anyway, a doctor named Crohn first discovered this disease in the 1930s, but even now, there is no cure.”

“I see.”

“What was it? Didn’t President Eisenhower of the United States undergo major surgery due to this disease, too?”

“Really?”

“Yes. The truth is, surgery doesn’t completely cure it. Well, since Eisenhower had a small bowel obstruction at the time, it couldn’t be helped. At any rate, there is a strong possibility that he suffered from Crohn’s disease until the day he died. I know he lived with coffee and cigarettes in his mouth, after all.”

“I see. Then what is the treatment?”

“A combination therapy of hydrocortisone and methotrexate works quite well. Methotrexate was originally developed as an anticancer drug, but it was later found to be quite effective for Crohn’s disease, so it is mainly used. Was it 1948? They are drugs developed quite a long time ago, representing a case where they are used differently from their original purpose. Generally, new drugs are born that way, though.”

“Ah!”

* * *

‘Right! I think I read it in a book too. Eisenhower suffered from Crohn’s disease!’

“That’s identical to me. As expected, he is my son. I must have passed down a terrible disease. Since it is determined by heaven, do not feel too disappointed.”

While Kim Ji-hyuk was recalling his memories, tsk, tsk, tsk, Eisenhower clicked his tongue and shook his head.

“Pardon? You have the same symptoms, Your Excellency?”

“That’s right. I’m also suffering from constant diarrhea and all kinds of skin diseases, and so is my son. Seeing John suffer from the same chronic disease as me, he is definitely my son! Doctor, going to the bathroom is a real ordeal for me too.”

Eisenhower took a sip of his coffee and swallowed it with a bitter smile.

‘It is indeed Crohn’s disease! Both Eisenhower and John!’

Finally, the question about Major John’s symptoms was resolved. And the cause of the pain that made Eisenhower wince was also revealed.

“Your Excellency, first of all, you must cut out coffee.”

“Are you talking about this?”

“Yes. Your disease and Major John’s disease is Crohn’s disease, which is not easy to cure.”

“Crohn’s disease??”

“Yes. The abdominal pain is concentrated in the lower abdomen. As for diarrhea, it occurs at a rate of about 85%, meaning if you go to the bathroom ten times, eight or nine times are diarrhea.”

“That’s right! How did you know that?”

“Have you experienced weight loss recently?”

“That is also correct. I just thought it was due to all kinds of stress.”

Eisenhower stood up abruptly with flashing eyes.

“You probably see bloody stool from rectal bleeding sometimes, and occasionally feel severe pain in the lower abdomen.”

“Amazing! You hit it exactly right.”

In amazement, Eisenhower repeatedly uttered exclamations.

“Furthermore, abscesses are likely to occur around the anus, and this can cause holes in the intestines. If severe, it can lead to bowel obstruction.”

“Hmm, bowel obstruction?”

“It is when the intestines get blocked due to holes forming from inflammation.”

“Oh my, that sounds terrifying just to hear.”

‘Yes. Because you also went through a major ordeal due to that.’

“Besides that, your vision may be blurry, and it may be difficult to urinate due to kidney abnormalities.”

“Truly extraordinary! Not a single one of the numerous doctors in America has diagnosed my symptoms as accurately as you have! I never dreamed that Korea’s medical level was this high!”

Eisenhower blinked in surprise.

‘Of course. Even in the twenty-first century, Crohn’s disease is not common, so how much more so now? It was a time when even the term Crohn’s disease itself was rare.’

“So you must quit coffee and smoking right now, and eat vegetables cooked as much as possible. And if you eat seaweed, your stomach will feel much more comfortable.”

“Seaweed? What is that?”

“Mmh, it’s a type of marine algae, which is mainly boiled and eaten in the form of soup in Korea. Eating it often will make your stomach feel much easier.”

“Oh! Then can I eat that?”

“Since it is a soup commonly eaten in Korea, of course you can eat it.”

“That’s good. I would like to try it too.”

“Yes. I will make preparations.”

“Anyway, since things have turned out this way, there is something I want to ask Dr. Kim as well.”

“Please ask.”

“That Crohn’s disease, is it a disease that can be treated?”

‘No. Since there is no cure even up to the twenty-first century.’

“Mmh, unfortunately, there is no cure yet.”

“I see.”

Eisenhower had a disappointed expression.

“However……”

“However? However what?”

Eisenhower asked Kim Ji-hyuk in a trembling voice as a ray of hope appeared.

“I think there is a way to alleviate the symptoms.”

“Is… is that true?”

‘I believe methotrexate was developed in 1948? If so, treatment is not impossible!’

“Yes. I cannot guarantee it, but it doesn’t seem like there is no way at all. Would that still be alright with you?”

“Of course. How wonderful it would be if I could just cure this dreadful chronic disease! Dr. Kim! I beg you. Help me not to go to the bathroom during meetings.”

Eisenhower grabbed Kim Ji-hyuk’s hands.

“Yes. Then, are you willing to do as I tell you from now on, Your Excellency?”

“Of course. Just say the word. I will do so.”

Eisenhower began to cling to him as if he had met a savior.

“First, cut out coffee.”

“Mmh… Very well. I will quit.”

“Second, eat seaweed soup every day. As a meal substitute.”

“Does that taste good?”

“Well. It tastes quite decent. Give it a try.”

“Understood! I will try that seaweed soup right away!”

‘Hehehe, if things go well, seaweed soup might become the first Hallyu food!’

Kim Ji-hyuk chuckled and slipped out of the hospital room.