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How to Save a Surgeon: Stories of Impossible Healing
It made no sense. I was a successful surgeon. I had all this stuff. Why was my life falling apart? Why was I miserable? I needed to talk to someone, but the only person who would listen was my sister, Amy, and I wasn’t in the mood to have another Christ-sandwich shoved down my throat…
Through raw and urgent storytelling, Dr. Tom Blee takes us through a small town hospital, an urban trauma center, an inner city murder scene, and the county jail - all as he comes to terms with his own need for healing. From a desperate moment on his knees in prayer to encountering life-changing miracles, we follow Tom as he learns what it means to follow Jesus.
Brutally honest at every turn, How to Save a Surgeon shows the power of God as He works through Tom and the ragtag crew around him to bring impossible healing to those desperate to receive it.
Through raw and urgent storytelling, Dr. Tom Blee takes us through a small town hospital, an urban trauma center, an inner city murder scene, and the county jail - all as he comes to terms with his own need for healing. From a desperate moment on his knees in prayer to encountering life-changing miracles, we follow Tom as he learns what it means to follow Jesus.
Brutally honest at every turn, How to Save a Surgeon shows the power of God as He works through Tom and the ragtag crew around him to bring impossible healing to those desperate to receive it.
- GenresNonfictionChristian
152 pages, Paperback
Published December 4, 2016
80 people are currently reading
276 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 14, 2025
Doctor Blee is one amazing guy, and the stories from his professional life are gut-wrenchingly IN-YOUR-FACE.
No soupy half-baked miracles here! This the real deal, a raw picture of nonstop trauma in the hospital ER of a violent town.
But the miracles that DO happen are the down-to-earth, honest-to-God results of divine intervention in the messy mixed-up world of modern medicine.
Even the surgeons are no heroes.
No, Doctor Blee can never freeze the action mid-frame and say to his would-be admirers, ‘SEE? That’s a shot of me saving another life!´
There’s an urban war out there, and he just happens to be picking up the pieces of it.
That’s all.
Credit doesn’t ever cling to his shaking shoulders: for he is an ever-anxious, existentially-driven medical professional who’s unsure of anything - except the help constantly offered to all of us by the Big Guy Upstairs.
And sometimes he’s not even sure of that!
Have you ever become caught up in a personal drama so intense, you aren’t even aware of yourself in the middle of it?
That’s the way it is in this book - and it’s the daily life of a dedicated surgeon in a violent inner city. For us bystanders, the life we see here is almost too much to handle.
We’re RIGHT THERE with him in the midst of it. There’s no chickening out!
And you know what else? The Kindle book is a real deal.
Obviously, Blee’s not in it for financial gain or fame. It’s an easy-to-miss dark horse of a book.
Sure, I know it’s fairly short.
But I know VERY FEW OTHER BOOKS that tell such a brutally honest story of A DOCTOR’S FAITH IN NONSTOP ACTION, and in this case, as it REALLY happens to a surgeon who’s not afraid to tell you of his own faults and to honestly minimize his successes.
In its brutally honest depiction of a faith-filled life at the centre of a grim ICU, it’s outstanding!
No soupy half-baked miracles here! This the real deal, a raw picture of nonstop trauma in the hospital ER of a violent town.
But the miracles that DO happen are the down-to-earth, honest-to-God results of divine intervention in the messy mixed-up world of modern medicine.
Even the surgeons are no heroes.
No, Doctor Blee can never freeze the action mid-frame and say to his would-be admirers, ‘SEE? That’s a shot of me saving another life!´
There’s an urban war out there, and he just happens to be picking up the pieces of it.
That’s all.
Credit doesn’t ever cling to his shaking shoulders: for he is an ever-anxious, existentially-driven medical professional who’s unsure of anything - except the help constantly offered to all of us by the Big Guy Upstairs.
And sometimes he’s not even sure of that!
Have you ever become caught up in a personal drama so intense, you aren’t even aware of yourself in the middle of it?
That’s the way it is in this book - and it’s the daily life of a dedicated surgeon in a violent inner city. For us bystanders, the life we see here is almost too much to handle.
We’re RIGHT THERE with him in the midst of it. There’s no chickening out!
And you know what else? The Kindle book is a real deal.
Obviously, Blee’s not in it for financial gain or fame. It’s an easy-to-miss dark horse of a book.
Sure, I know it’s fairly short.
But I know VERY FEW OTHER BOOKS that tell such a brutally honest story of A DOCTOR’S FAITH IN NONSTOP ACTION, and in this case, as it REALLY happens to a surgeon who’s not afraid to tell you of his own faults and to honestly minimize his successes.
In its brutally honest depiction of a faith-filled life at the centre of a grim ICU, it’s outstanding!
December 29, 2019
I can’t recall why I got this book- if it was given to me or if I found it - It’s a quick read, but it’s not well written. The doctor clearly wants to share his story of faith, but he lacks the ability to do this in writing. There are weird chapter breaks, stories stopped in the middle and picked up again later. And lots of cliches and repeated favorite expressions that got a bit annoying.
January 16, 2018
I loved this book as it showed how the power of God can shine through the darkness. The only thing I could not figure out was why the author was arrested and spent a night in jail. I understand that he wanted to demonstrate how God was still with him in that very low point of his life, but I still could not figure out what he had done that warranted arrest and confinement. This is the only area of discontinuity in an otherwise great book.
March 9, 2017
I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway. I've never written a review before, so please go easy on me if you read this. :) I thought this was a very good book. I liked how the author used personal and professional examples to show the impossible healing he had encountered. If you don't like books that are religious and faith based then this is not the book for you. The only reason I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5 is because it was so short. It left me wanting more stories.
February 11, 2018
Provoking, encouraging, inspiring. The christian life doesn't mean everything is hunky dory all the time. Tom reveals, through his own honest account of his successes and failures, the true key to walking in the Spirit in every part of life.
April 9, 2018
Eye opening
This book has more to say about the work of the True Healer than actual emergency room trauma. The book is a quick read that will change hearts and offer hope and peace. Highly recommend!
This book has more to say about the work of the True Healer than actual emergency room trauma. The book is a quick read that will change hearts and offer hope and peace. Highly recommend!
July 20, 2017
Really enjoyed reading this book.
January 15, 2018
A Story for All of Us
Nothing rings truer than the healing power of Jesus Christ and the many ways it is brought into our lives. Tom Blee shares his best and worst moments in a way we can all recognize in ourselves and find that Jesus is here for all of us.
Nothing rings truer than the healing power of Jesus Christ and the many ways it is brought into our lives. Tom Blee shares his best and worst moments in a way we can all recognize in ourselves and find that Jesus is here for all of us.
January 22, 2018
If you want to read a wonderful testimony, this is it.
I love his version of the ABC's of life and it is not airway, breathing, circulation!! Only Jesus knows each man's story.
I love his version of the ABC's of life and it is not airway, breathing, circulation!! Only Jesus knows each man's story.
February 6, 2017
A compelling story about the changes that God can make in an individual and the continued existence of miracles.
December 15, 2016
This was amazingly inspirational book with true life stories! Everyone should read it! One never know what some one is going thru until the story is told!
June 20, 2018
Inspirational!
I have worked as an RN and later as a family nurse practitioner- I am also a Christian. The book title grabbed my attention, I was looking for something to inspire me, this didn't disappoint! Life threw me a curve ball -autoimmune disease and disabling (painful) neuropathy. I think it helps to know about others troubles, so we don't feel quite so alone, there is ALWAYS someone worse off than you, (so be thankful)and to be encouraged that tomorrow will be better! (God willing!) Nada sounds like a real character!
I have worked as an RN and later as a family nurse practitioner- I am also a Christian. The book title grabbed my attention, I was looking for something to inspire me, this didn't disappoint! Life threw me a curve ball -autoimmune disease and disabling (painful) neuropathy. I think it helps to know about others troubles, so we don't feel quite so alone, there is ALWAYS someone worse off than you, (so be thankful)and to be encouraged that tomorrow will be better! (God willing!) Nada sounds like a real character!
February 13, 2018
A quick, interesting read, though the narrative is a little choppy. I admire the author for his candidness about his own life mistakes, and for his willingness to not only turn his own life around, but then to reach out to others to help them.
September 25, 2019
I thought it was a great faith story showing how God's healing power. I wished he would have told us more about why he went to jail. I understand that it was terrible time for him, but I think most people would be understanding. I'm glad I read it and would recommend it to anyone.
March 21, 2018
The message makes this....
The message makes this a 5 star book. Easy to understand and encouraging for those of us feeling times of crisis.
The message makes this a 5 star book. Easy to understand and encouraging for those of us feeling times of crisis.
March 29, 2018
Retired Medical Missionary Endorses this book
O could not put it down until the end. An amazing story vividly told. What an amazing Savior we have! 5 stars
O could not put it down until the end. An amazing story vividly told. What an amazing Savior we have! 5 stars
June 17, 2019
this was a collection of stories about an ER Dr. and the experiences he had with trauma and Jesus Christ. It was interesting and inspiring, but a little too churchy for me.
September 16, 2019
An easy read of hard truths and healing.
December 21, 2021
Loved this book.
May 14, 2024
Follows a trauma surgeon from Regions here in the Twin Cities. His story of how he completely lost control over his life and got back on the right track.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews