Surgeon's Story

Surgeon's Story, Mark Oristano and Kristine Guleserian MD, Authority Publishing, 2017

This short book takes place at Children's Medical Center in Dallas, Texas as Dr. G fixes the hearts of some of the tiniest patients. Her day is a jumble of consultations with colleagues, checking on her patients, meeting with the families of new patients and operations. Sometimes, there is actually time for a snack.

A native of Massachusetts, Guleserian was exposed to cardiac surgery from an early age, when her younger brother was born with heart problems. The book looks at her medical training, moving up the medical ranks as she went from one hospital to another.

Several of her young patients are profiled in this book. A young boy, who is a big Boston Red Sox fan, has successful open-heart surgery. Three weeks later, he is at Fenway Park, throwing out the first pitch at a World Series game. A little girl named Rylynn is born with a very underdeveloped heart (one of her ventricles is much smaller than normal). Several operations are unable to fix the problem. Rylynn is eventually attached to a mechanical heart, but her condition continues to get worse. She is put at the top of the transplant "list". Does she get a new heart in time?

This is a very heartwarming book. There is only a little bit of medical jargon. It is a must-read for parents of a child with heart problems. It also works as an inspirational story. Dr. G is an excellent role model for any girl who wants to be a surgeon when they grow up. This book is very much recommended.