Fragile lives by Stephen Westaby

Blurb 

An incredible memoir from one of the world’s most eminent heart surgeons and some of the most remarkable and poignant cases he’s worked on.

Grim Reaper sits on the heart surgeon’s shoulder. A slip of the hand and life ebbs away.

The balance between life and death is so delicate, and the heart surgeon walks that rope between the two. In the operating room there is no time for doubt. It is flesh, blood, rib-retractors and pumping the vital organ with your bare hand to squeeze the life back into it. An off-day can have dire consequences – this job has a steep learning curve, and the cost is measured in human life. Cardiac surgery is not for the faint of heart.

Professor Stephen Westaby took chances and pushed the boundaries of heart surgery. He saved hundreds of lives over the course of a thirty-five year career and now, in his astounding memoir, Westaby details some of his most remarkable and poignant cases – such as the baby who had suffered multiple heart attacks by six months old, a woman who lived the nightmare of locked-in syndrome, and a man whose life was powered by a battery for eight years.

A powerful, important and incredibly moving book, Fragile Lives offers an exceptional insight into the exhilarating and sometimes tragic world of heart surgery, and how it feels to hold someone’s life in your hands. 

My thoughts

Firstly, my thanks go to Harper Collins Non Fiction for my copy of the book which I have voluntarily reviewed.

Whilst the subject (heart surgery) can be quite daunting, I found myself drawn to the book. At times, I wanted to carry on and read and at other times, I just felt the need to put it down. 

Fragile lives, is beautifully written and has a lot of time and effort put into it and this for me really shone through. Although the subject can be quite daunting, it's also moving. 

Fragilelives is a collection of Stephen's career as a heart surgeon. For this industry to me, is quite huge. I mean, let's think for a minute. You are waiting for heart surgery, who do you trust? If I were the patient, I'd be scared for a start and my brain would be doing overtime with negative thoughts. You'd probably feel overwhelmed, I know I would. 

So, anyway, is this a book I would recommend? Absolutely. Yes. It took me out of my comfort zone and now I want more.