Yet, the room had shifted its attention from the agitated surgeon back to the dog, whose behavior had not abated. Max continued to bark, his eyes locked onto the surgeon as if trying to communicate an urgent message.

It was the boy’s mother who spoke next, her voice breaking the standoff. “Please, for my son. If there’s even a small chance… could you just check? For peace of mind?”

Reluctantly, Dr. Harris agreed, his expression a mixture of irritation and resignation. A series of hurried consultations and tests followed. What they found stunned everyone: the surgeon had early signs of an illness that could have severely impaired his focus and capability during the operation. It was a condition he had been unknowingly carrying, one that could have had dire consequences during the intense procedure.