Paparazzi - VII

Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital 

Paris

Béatrice Humbert, the chief nurse of the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris was busy discussing with her boss Dr. Andre Lienhart, a renowned plastic surgeon was enquiring about the patients who were admitted the previous day. “Any casualties?”He asked her. “Yes Doctor Andre. 4 casualties reported. Brian Gifford, A Business Man, aged 37. Tried to commit suicide, and was rescued by the relatives. Condition: Critical Hugh Smith, A Painter, aged 52. Broke his knees while trying to climb a ladder. Condition: Normal Nina Leonhard, aged 27. Met with a car accident earlier this morning and died after few Hrs of treatment. Condition: Awaiting Autopsy” “Richard S. Flickinger,…” The nurse was reading out the case register “Hold on Béatrice. Is she the famous Hooker in Paris Nina?”He asked her “Yes, you are right Doctor” She replied. “Nobody has claimed her body yet.” She added “Strange but true!!! Nobody would want to fancy a lifeless body. Men are always Men” Her voice reflected pity for Nina “Next” He asked “Richard S. Flickinger, A Truck driver, aged 41. Hit by a car while driving his motorbike. Condition: Lesser than critical” She finished Suddenly there was chaos at the hospital entrance. An ambulance screeched up to the scene. Few cops rushed to the front of the hospital and a stretcher was pulled out from the ambulance. Dr. Andre and Béatrice rushed to the stretcher and were pulled back with shock when they saw Diana bleeding with heavy bruises all over her body. For a moment Béatrice felt her knees began to buckle and the room began to swim as she desperately fought the overpowering urge to faint. They recovered immediately and guided the stretcher towards the operating theatre. “Call up Prof. Alain Pavie immediately and tell him this is an emergency; More than an emergency” Dr. Andre ordered Béatrice. She nodded and rushed up towards the reception. Dr. Andre thought Prof. Alain Pavie, one of the France's top cardio-thoracic surgeons would be the right person 

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02:15A.M

Prof. Alain Pavie arrived at the operating room and by the time he reached, Diana was under severe diagnosis. She was breathing normally and the ECG was close to normal. “Prof Alain, these are her reports. Her Pulse rate is rising 10-15 beats/minute and there is a significant drop in her blood pressure too” Dr. Andre handed over the reports. Prof. Alain came closer to Diana and observed her keenly. “Her skin pigmentation seems to have increased than normal” He told to himself. “Dr. Andre, make arrangements for the CPB (Cardiopulmonary bypass). We must act fast” He said Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is a technique that temporarily takes over the function of the heart and lungs during surgery, maintaining the circulation of blood and the oxygen content of the body. The CPB pump is often referred to as a heart-lung machine or "the pump" 

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Diana was dressed up in hospital gown and Prof. Alain wasted no time. He knew it would take nearly 4 Hrs for a normal CPB. But this case was complicated. Dr. Andre and Béatrice assisted the operation. Prof Alain began the surgery. The source of the hemorrhaging was a single lesion, which was a partial rupture of the left pulmonary vein at the point of contact with the left atrium. The tear was sutured and the hemorrhaging was stopped. He tried to reestablish a heartbeat by applying the electroshock, but it did not bring result. Prof Alain never looked like giving up. He kept repeating the procedure and almost failed to make count of it 

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Short and balding at the age forty-six, Father Yves’ resident priest had been fast asleep in his apartment when he was jolted awake by a phone call at 3 a.m. from the emergency unit of the hospital to give the last rites to someone “very important”. He was received by Prof Alain, Dr. Andre and Béatrice. Diana was still breathing, but it was very feeble. “Father Yves. I am glad that you came” Prof Alain spoke first. “Looking at the scene outside the hospital, I don’t think this is a normal car accident. They had planted a car crash to kill the Princess. Some English officials have been approaching me and enquiring me about the princess’ chance to survive this crash. They sound desperate to know about her condition. It is really weird why no one from the Royal Family has arrived yet.” He finished “Any chances of survival, Prof.? Or should I go ahead with the last rites?” Father Yves asked him back “50-50 chances father. But I don’t think she is going to make it. Even if she does, there are people outside waiting to make not survive. Also, She is 6 weeks pregnant, Father” He replied. They expressed shock in his face. “So what do you think, we must do now?” Father asked him Everyone remained calm unable to find an answer to the Father’s question. Dr. Andre looked at Béatrice curiously “I need to inform Mr. Mohamed Fayed immediately” He said. 

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4:00 A.M

They came out of the basement operating room and decided to shift her to the bluewalled second-floor room just above the main entrance of the eight storey PitiéSalpêtrière. Prof. Alain requested Dr. Andre and Father Yves to address the media about the death of the Princess of Wales. They both walked towards the hospital’s entrance. High officials from the French Embassy, the French police department, journalists, TV personals and a huge crowd of civilians were waiting in front of the hospital. Everyone who had turned up went silent when the announcement was made “We are deeply saddened to announce the death of Princess of Wales, Lady Diana who passed away on the night of August 31 1997 in a car crash. Autopsy is in progress and the departure of her body from the Hospital will commence shortly” They finished 

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4:30 P.M 

In strict accordance with protocol, a red carpet had been rolled from the curb to PitiéSalpêtrière’s main entrance, flanked by officers of the French President’s colorfully garbed Republican Guard. The Princess’s body was transported from the Hospital to Villacoublay, a military airfield southwest of Paris, and was placed on the Queen’s Flight BAe 146 CC.2. for the journey back home. The body of Princess Diana arrived back in the British soil gloomily. The coffin was accompanied by Prince Charles and two of Diana’s sisters. The coffin was lifted gently from the rear of the plane by the British officials and carried away from the aircraft. They headed towards the Hyde Park where it was to be lain for 5 days and later on would be taken to the Kensington Palace 

*************TO BE CONTINUED *************