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Fragile Lives
- A Heart Surgeon's Stories of Life and Death on the Operating Table
- Narrated by: Gordon Griffin
- Length: 10 hrs and 26 mins
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Fragile Lives
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Summary
An incredible memoir from one of the world's most eminent heart surgeons, with 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 35-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 exceptional insight into the exhilarating and sometimes tragic world of heart surgery and how it feels to hold someone's life in your hands.
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What listeners say about Fragile Lives
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anon
- 24-11-20
Interesting for sure
Great book, couldn’t give 5 stars though due to some seriously dated language at times when referring to protected characteristics. Worth a listen though, a great peek into the world of a heart surgeon.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 28-12-17
He saved my daughters life....
Brilliant man, brilliant team. Needs proper support.. Thanks for your bravery, determination and extraordinary skill.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Rebecca penfold
- 17-11-18
Fascinating stories detailing the technical and emotional difficulties of a pioneering heart surgeon
Thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book, finishing in less than a week. Many stories detailing different complicated and pioneering surgeries that Westaby performed. Highly emotional and no details withheld on the nature of the operations, but as someone scared of blood I found the stories more interesting than gruesome. Would highly recommend, the narrator has an easy to listen to voice and adds in the occasional accent for effect.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- S. Corner
- 17-04-17
Absolutely brilliant. Please read it!
I am not one to like anything to do with surgery at all! But this book was so good and easy to listen to, sharing his and his patients stories. The true dedication and honesty comes across. I would never have thought of a top heart surgeon coming from Scunthorpe,which I knew as a child, so this blew away some myths and stereotyping. Much food for thought at the end about the NHS, funding and the league tables that sets a culture of blame. So applicable for other social and public services. I hope someone in Goverment reads this book. Thank you for writing this as it is a truly amazing story/career and read so well by the narrator.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- BJose
- 26-07-23
Great book!
Took me a little while to get in to it but I’m so glad I persevered. What a great life story. I feel so inspired having listened to it and grateful that he shared it.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ruth Nixon
- 01-05-17
What a book, what a man
I brought this book after reading an extract within a national newspaper. I wasn't disappointed.
I wouldn't be able to begin to imagine what a day in the life of a heart surgeon would bring Prof Westaby has written a book which is both enthralling as it is interesting and exciting. I couldn't put it down.
This gentleman has a gift for his work as a surgeon and one which so many people must be so grateful for.
Excellent book, excellent man, excellent work.
A must read.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- H W
- 15-02-18
Excellent book
Fascinating book with interesting case studies, a candid look into the complex cases encountered along one man’s career
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Starskey
- 27-04-17
Inciteful
Good book.
Narration good but annoying as pronunciation of medical terminology mostly Incorrect and so annoying.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mnd
- 18-01-21
Excellent read
Loved this book just like the authors last. Cannot recommend enough. Tragic, compelling and light hearted at times.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Tim
- 22-02-17
Outstanding a must read
This is an outstanding and even important book. I have been transfixed from start to finish even if at points it has addressed profoundly sadly moments.
I believe this book should be read by every hospital manager / administrator as Mr Westaby's can do approach seems to be very much at risk from the inexorable march of clipboard management.
Buy and read this book, you won't regret it.
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1 person found this helpful