Chapter 2 - DR. STERLING’S INTERVENTION
Dr. Sterling, my lead orthopedic surgeon from Rush Medical Center, stood on the p
orch steps, his medical coat stark against the casual setting. He held his smartphone up, the screen recording the entire brutal exchange. As he walked down the steps toward Tyler, the crowd parted, their phones suddenly dropping to their sides. Tyler’s face turned an ugly shade of purple as he realized he had just assaulted a disabled man in front of a medical professional who knew the extent of my physical trauma.
“Mr. Anderson,” Dr. Sterling said, looking at me with professional concern before turning his icy gaze toward Tyler. “I’ve been treating Marcus for two years. His spinal fusion is structurally delicate, and the trauma you’ve just inflicted on him could necessitate revision surgery.” Tyler stammered, trying to claim I was faking, but Dr. Sterling simply tapped his phone screen, signaling that he had captured the entire incident on video. “Assaulting a patient with a documented disability is a serious criminal offense, Tyler. And I have every intention of handing this footage over to the local police department.”
