Prepare the individual for any changes in routine by explaining these changes ahead of time, possibly by using visual signs. Uttam said, “I came to know from our neighbours that the government dispensary in our area has been changed to a Centre for Mothers and Children. One of our relatives delivered her baby safely there and did not have to pay for this service. So, I prayed, and I admitted my wife to the same centre. Midwife Bharti conducted the delivery, and we were not charged a single penny. People with Fragile X do not all have the same signs and symptoms, but they do have some things in common. Symptoms are often milder in females than in males. I read this pretty much in one sitting - an incredibly emotional, informative and really very addictive memoir here from Stephen Westaby, I now know more about the human heart than I ever could imagine that I would.

Fragile Lives by Stephen Westaby; Emergency Admissions by Kit

Dr Westbury was obviously something of a marvel, and was masterful in his work. I think to do a profession such as that, you need to be of a certain character, and I know, that I certainly couldn't do it. Dr Westbury tells us of the many triumphs where his patients of all ages have gone on to live happy and fulfilling lives, but also the tragedies, where lives were lost way too soon. There was much jargon in here, and some of it went over my head, but it made for interesting reading. It's amazing how far medicine has come in just a few generations. Who would have thought artificial hearts can and do work. The ability for a truly rested heart to regenerate is eye-opening and makes you wonder why we can't be doing this for more people. A brilliant, thought provoking memoir chronicling renowned heart surgeon Westaby as he details his life and career. Starting from humble beginnings, the author challenges the perception that only public schoolboys get to be surgeons.

Fragile Roofs, Fragile Lives

People with 200 or more repeats in the promoter part of the gene have a full mutation, meaning the gene might not work at all. People with a full mutation often have Fragile X syndrome. This is one of those books of medical true-life stories, but is more technical than most By the end, I knew a great deal more of the structure of the heart, blood chemistry and why making lots of pee is extremely important. Tracing his journey from a youthful, high-spirited trainee with eccentric ideas to a polished, experienced professor and leader in his field, Westaby shows us the marvel of saving lives. Behind the blood and gore, there is always a human fighting for his life, and loved ones holding on to hope. As a doctor, one traverses both physical and emotional realms. In the operating theatre, the mind is at work, fully focused on cutting, suturing and stitching, but once out of those blood-stained walls, the undulating waves of emotion return. Chroniclers such as Westaby and Wharton are much needed to remind us of the ethical dilemmas that have yet to be resolved, the value of vocation and why, for all its flaws, the NHS is a public service that must not be allowed to die.

Stephen Westaby - Wikipedia Stephen Westaby - Wikipedia

The way the book is written allows someone who is certainly not scientific-minded - ie. me - to understand (and I use the word 'understand' in a loosest possible way) what Stephen Westaby and his team doing and why... (sort of!) It's not such complex language that you can't follow it, and Westaby explains things in a way that makes it a lot clearer and accessible to everyone. The introduction does explain the basic function and structure of the heart, however if you have very little knowledge of anatomy, biology or medicine you might struggle to follow some of the cases. He does go into quite a bit of detail on each surgery, which some also might find gory.

NEWSROOM

Spanning many years and many innovations, "Fragile Hearts" puts life into huge perspective - just how much we rely on the heart to function well was something I had little understanding of, now I am literally going to be thankful for every beat. Doctors are the unsung heroes sometimes, this is the second medical memoir I've read (the brilliant "Do No Harm" from Henry Marsh being the other, which does for the brain what Dr Westaby does for the heart here and I can also highly recommend) and it is a fascinating world that we both see and don't see. The bureaucracy/politics of the medical system baffled me on more than one occasion. I shared Westaby's frustrations with it all and wanted to shake these people till common sense popped in their heads. (As my one friend said before... "This is why some people are frustrated with and/or hate the Health profession") Please note that some of these medications carry serious risks. Others may make symptoms worse at first, or they may take several weeks to become effective. Doctors may have to try different dosages or combinations of medications to find the most effective plan. Families, caregivers, and doctors need to work together to ensure that a medication is working and that the medication plan is safe. Beth wanted me to be a cardiac surgeon,” Westaby writes, complex surgery out of his reach today because of a distorted hand caused by Dupuytren’s contracture. “And I didn’t disappoint her. I was good at it.” The most moving part of the entire episode is not how Westaby tried to save a child with a rare condition, but rather the emotional attachment he felt—the irrepressible yearning to save a tiny life that meant that world to someone else. If the boy died, his mother would have no one else to turn to; she would be left utterly alone, with only her grief and misery for accompaniment. How could life be so cruel? She was still so youthful, “stunningly beautiful”, with years ahead of her. And the boy, even more. Reading this made my heart throb because it all felt so unjust, so sad, that this life should be taken away. The failure to save both of them from tragedy left Westaby in a forlorn state. As all surgeons must, he moved on to save other lives, but the haunting image of the girl carrying a bundle of rags never left him.