Surgeon's Story - Inside OR-1 With One of America's Top Pediatric Surgeons

by Mark Oristano

SURGEON’S STORY is your passport into OR-1, the cardiac surgical suite at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas. You’ll be there as Dr. Kristine Guleserian, noted pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon, fixes the tiny hearts of the tiniest children. Follow the young boy who gets a new heart and then, three weeks later, joins Dr. Guleserian on the mound at Fenway Park to throw out the first pitch at a World Series game. Discover the years of training Dr. G went through to become the highly respected surgeon she is today. See how her warmth, humor, intelligence and dedication provide a shining example of what is good about the American health care system. To get a closer look than this, you’d have to scrub in.

Genres: Medicine, Medical, Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Health

154 pages, Paperback

First published February 28, 2017

About the author

After growing up in suburban New York, Mark attended Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, majoring in broadcast journalism. After his junior year he was hired as a sports reporter by WFAA-TV, the ABC affiliate in Dallas, where he worked with sports director Verne Lundquist. He also anchored in Nashville, where his co-anchor was Oprah Winfrey.
Mark broadcast NFL games for the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Oilers. His first book, A SPORTSCASTER'S GUIDE TO WATCHING FOOTBALL, sold out it's first run.
His new book, SURGEON'S STORY, with pediatric heart surgeon Dr. Kristine Guleserian, is coming out in January.

Reviews

[N.N. Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

In today’s world of medicine, there are some doctors so gifted, so talented, saving the lives of people comes second-nature. Dr. G is such a person and this is her story. Told from the point of view of journalist Mark Oristano as he shadows Dr. Kristine Guleserian, pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon, Surgeon’s Story is a gut-wrenching, emotional and in-depth look at an average day in Dr. G’s OR. From the x-ray room to meeting the parents of one of her infant patients, Oristano reveals it all. The reader gets to secretly scrub in and peek inside the mind of a brilliant surgeon.



I loved this memoir and seeing Dr. G in action. It reads quickly and you get a real feel for what an average day in the OR is like. But more than that, you meet her support staff as well as the parents whose child’s life is in Dr. G’s hands. Oristano details without gory details life each procedure, spotlighting Dr. G’s brilliance. There are even a few funny moments that made me chuckle. What’s front and center, though, is the inspiring woman who is Dr. G. She’s proof-positive that women can change the world.



If you’re a fan of medical television dramas or looking for an emotional memoir, pick up Surgeon’s Story today. Peek inside an OR and witness medical miracles happening every single day. A must read!



Favorite Character/Quote: “We eat stress like M&M’s in here.”



My Rating: 5 stars



This review first appeared: https://princessofthelight.wordpress.com

[LAWonder10 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surgeon's Story is a very informative Human Interest account of not only a remarkable Surgeon but of the endurance, faith, perseverance, and stamina of those awaiting heart transplants, the large percentage of individuals needing them and of family members and physicians involved. I, personally, have a close friend whose first newborn son had to endure heart surgery at 2 weeks old! That was stressful enough. Many not only endure heart surgeries multiple times but must also depend on obtaining a new heart from  donor to continue to survive. I can only begin to imagine the cost to these families, not only financially, but emotionally.
This is a very inspiring tale of a dedicated Surgeon, who has sacrificed her own personal life for the sake of serving others, and a few accounts of the recipients.
It is very well written and totally interesting.
This earns a solid Four Stars rating.
This book was gifted to me with no suggestion of posting a positive review. This is my honest review.

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

If you love hospital drama's then you will love this.
It takes you right into the operating theatre.
A wonderful insight into the pressures of a surgeon.

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

According to author Mark Oristano, when he approached noted pediatric cardiac surgeon Kristine Guleserian., M.D. (a.k.a, "Dr. G") about authoring her own biography, she balked at the suggestion it be written from her first-person point of view – too egotistical, she said; it would draw attention away from what she considered the more important stories: her patients, and the medicine and science that make her work possible. So Oristano devised an unusual approach that works very well here – he wrote in the first person from his own point of view, sharing both the facts as well as his reactions to his experiences shadowing Dr. G during his research for this book. But he gave her more than just quotational insertions here and there – instead, large swaths of text are in Dr. G's voice, set apart with italics. The benefit to this format is that Dr. G can just talk conversationally, including all the jargon of her profession, and Oristano can interject parenthetically to explain medical terms and concepts as well as provide context where needed. Due to the fact that he also got to know her well, Oristano is also able provide observations on her personality, sense of humor, etc. – glimpses of her humanity and compassion that might not otherwise be conveyed well through long verbatim quotes.

Dr. G has had a long and storied career, so Oristano wisely narrowed down the case studies to just two primary ones (one 13-year-old heart transplant recipient, and one toddler with a congenital heart defect most certainly fatal if left untreated), but still provided an overview of the varied experiences of her educational and professional endeavors. This is a short book, so trying to tell the tales of too many patients would have made it way too detail-laden and cramped. But Surgeon's Story is, at its heart, the biography of a single person in a rarefied field, and so Oristano also makes room for us to get to know his subject on a personal level, and, as he was writing as a participant-observer, himself as well. Dr. Guleserian is a worthy biographical subject, and embodies all the traits you'd hope for and expect in a surgeon at the top of her game: dedicated, brilliant, curious, resourceful, passionate, boundlessly energetic, and just a little bit cocky! – but also the kind of healer and person you'd feel safe entrusting with your children's health: kind, communicative, able to relate to kids readily – all with humor and profound compassion.

My primary complaint with the book was the really bad image reproduction; the photos and even the anatomical line drawings looked as if they were fourth generation photocopies! (And it's too bad, because they definitely added to the book.) A very thin tome at 140 pp, I really think it could have been longer; there were several different areas that Oristano could have gone into deeper or expanded into, such as (in no particular order):

• Dr. G's medical school training (and I'm not just saying that because she went to Boston University, my alma mater!) and the general educational and vocational training of doctors, surgeons, cardiothoracic surgeons, and/or pediatric surgeons;

• the personal, emotional toll of working with babies and children and their desperate, terrified parents, especially in the face of the inevitable failures and deaths (as the book stands, it is very hopeful and upbeat, glossing over tragic results and thus making this a "safe" read for parents of pediatric cardiac surgery candidates);

• the outcomes and later lives of Dr. G's patients;

• the US transplant waiting list system;

• etc.

But overall, Surgeon's Tale is a fascinating look into the seemingly magical world of technologically cutting-edge heart surgery on impossibly small patients, through the mind – and "heart", if you will – of one of its star practitioners. It serves a broad audience, from those who are in or aspire to medical careers, to parents who have children in need of their services, but will also be fascinating to general readers as well.

3.75 stars.

I received an autographed, completed copy of this book via Goodreads Giveaways, courtesy of the authors. My opinions are my own.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admired the bravery of the patients and their parents and the stamina they had to get thru their ordeals. I am thankful to people like DR G and her co-workers who are able to perform the service they do to save lives. There are many medical terms in this book which are well explained. My only problem is with the numerous Doctor's names that were mentioned that did nothing to enhance the story.

[Susan Bissell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible story of the gifted Dr. G a Peds Cardiothoracic surgeon. I wish all doctor had her compassion when they are treating patients and dealing what the family members are going through as they watch their baby, child, or teenager being wheeled off to surgery where you are left wondering if you will ever see them again alive! Dr. G makes sure she gets to know everyone in the family, and she wants to connect with them on a personal level, she just cares, she doesn't restrain herself from dealing with the emotions the family is going through with a sick and dying child. (I know, because I have been there with a young child with a serious health problem, some surgeons can be so cold they barely can relate to you because they are so egotistical about themselves to even show they even care when they are treating your child. I got so tired of hearing, "He has a bad bedside manner but is a great surgeon." Does that allow them to treat our children with such indifference?) Dr. G gives each of her patients her compassion and her best as she operates to save their life, and she ever seems to give up, she will do everything in her power to save her patient. I like that she even gets know the people who are in the O.R. with to say Hello to everyone she knows in the hospital. I just don't know how she does it with all the long hours she keeps, when does this woman rest? I am exhausted just reading how long one day in her life is, up at 4 am and going to the O.R to operate for 18 hours, seeing patients, going on rounds, answering emails in the evening, etc.! I thank God every day for gifted surgeons like Dr. G that come into our lives and save us or our loved ones.

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love medical memoirs and this focus on a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon was completely fascinating. The amount of education and training needed, the fact that she is a petite woman with attitude and heart, and the intricacy of her operations likened to sewing a piece of olive onto a macaroni noodle are all amazing to me. The best part is you can enter to win a $25 gift card to Amazon and purchase your own copy if you win!

Mark Oristano is a well-known sports journalist and decides to follow Dr. Kristine Guleserian, a noted pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon who works on tiny hearts of some of the youngest children as well as some of the most damaged and weakest hearts in children. Through her voice, as well as his, we are introduced to the years of grueling training that medical students go through to the day she decides to become a surgeon to the many lives she has saved during her years at Children's Medical Center in Dallas.

One of her patients, Rylynn, is featured throughout the story. Rylynn's case begins as an infant, born with a heart abnormality. As a toddler, she becomes Dr. Guleserian's patient and eventually needs a heart transplant. The story of resilience of this sweet girl and all that she endured to be a healthy child is quite amazing. She is a true fighter and reading about the multiple surgeries and near death experiences her and her parents endured brought me to tears.

At just 140 pages, this book is a quick look at the life and career of a compassionate doctor who truly loves being a surgeon. It isn't bogged down in medical jargon, but instead offers the human side of doctors, patients looking for another chance at life, and parents praying to see their children be active and grow into adults. A really fascinating book!

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given the opportunity via NetGalley to read an electronic copy of Surgeon's Story: Inside OR-1 with One of America's Top Pediatric Heart Surgeons. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Dr. Kristine Guleserian is one of only nine women in the United States who is board certified in the specialty of pediatric cardiothoracic surgery. Author Mark Oristano, a journalist who spent nearly seven years shadowing the doctor, tells the story of a surgeon who works tirelessly to save the lives of children.

With an overwhelming number of four and five star reviews, I was eagerly anticipating a riveting and well written book. According to his bio, author Mark Oristano is a 35 year veteran journalist. However, I found his writing style to be choppy, with awkward phrasing and poor sentence structure throughout. Surgeon's Story should have been compelling, but really never hits its stride. In an attempt to use a timeline to structure the book, the author pulls the focus from one case to another, detracting from the story as a whole. Dr. Kristine Guleserian is an amazing doctor, a strong and determined woman, and a devoted member of her family and her medical community, but Surgeon's Story does not communicate her strengths all that well. The amount of time that the author spent compiling information for this book is not reflected in the overall quality of the writing. For these reasons, I would be hesitate to recommend Surgeon's Story to other readers.

[Jenn Z at That's What She's Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can find all of my reviews on my blog That's What She's Reading.

I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest and thoughtful review.

I have always been fascinated by medical memoirs and was really excited to read this book about a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon. This is an insightful and fascinating look into the world of medicine that really makes you feel that you are scrubbed in right along with Dr. G. The book reads quickly even with all the detailed scientific information, but is never weighed down by medical jargon. And while I'm not personally bothered by gory medical details, for those that are, you won't find that in this book. The spotlight is more on all of the amazing work that Dr. G is providing to the country's tiniest patients. Not only do you receive insight into Dr. G's average day, but you get to see what the children and their parents are experiencing as well.

I really enjoyed reading about Dr. G's decision to become a doctor as well as her experiences in medical school and the training she received to become a surgeon. Even as someone who stands at the top of her field, she remains humble and strives to keep learning new lifesaving techniques. She is truly an inspiration to not only those in the medical field, but for women in general as a example of an accomplished woman succeeding in a predominantly male-dominated career.

This is a very compelling read full of human interest that will keep you riveted until the very end.

[Ellesse · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept of the book was intriguing at the beginning, it seemed to be a medical book but from a different point of view than a doctor, but it’s not it’s pages of quotes from Dr G with some of what Mark did but mostly he was trying to explain things, some of it did start to feel a little repetitive.

Dr G is a remarkable woman, there is no doubt about that. She is a heart surgeon on children and tiny babies, we read some of her career and focus on a number of main cases throughout the book. We read about different cases with different issues from babies diagnosed with issues before she was born to a toddler then to a teenager who made a remarkable recovery.

While the diagram at the beginning certainly did help, the language used was very medical. Most of it passed over my head so I didn’t enjoy it as much as something in the field may. If you wanted to go into this area of surgery I think it would be interesting but unless you are medically minded I’d try something different.

I’ve given the book 3 5/10 for a few reasons, the language was a little difficult and I would have preferred it in Dr G’s voice but it was still an interesting read

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for giving me a copy of the book in exchange for this, an honest review

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every nurse, doctor, administrative assistant, scrub tech, courier, and everyone else both behind the scenes and everyone else that works at a hospital, really deserves a shout out of thanks. If you asked Dr. Guleserian, she would acknowledge that she could not be the best without her team.

Although, Dr. Guleserian may be small in height but she can still command a room. Mr. Oristano explains how Dr. Guleserian did not want to write a book about herself and how he would do it in the first person with quotes from the doctor. Actually, I enjoyed the book this was. It was great to really get the full experience of someone looking in from the outside. Therefore, every time that Mr. Oristano saw or felt something, I felt and the same things. Each of the stories that were featured about some of Dr. Guleserian's young patients was inspiring. I like that Dr. Guleserian said that she kept learning. Even at the top, she still was researching to see what new techniques were out there and not just in the US. This book moved me in a good way.

[Sherrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

***I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway***

OK, so it's well written. Mr. Oristano uses a great style that mixed the science w/ the human element that was really refreshing to read.

And Dr. G (who he shadowed to write the book) sounds amazing. She does important, interesting work and getting a peak into that life was interesting. I'll never be a surgeon (I like my 9-5, thank you), but I have a deep appreciation for those who can do that...especially as I learn more about it.

That said...it just wasn't that engaging of a book. I think it would have been better served by being a bit longer (it's 140 pages) and delving into more of the medicine, the case studies, AND Dr. G's experiences being a woman in such a man's world. It was so short on these things, especially the last one, that it came across as a little too cheerleader-y.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book through goodreads. I really enjoyed it. It takes you into a few cases of Dr. Guleserian "Dr. G" and what it's like to be a pediatric cardiac surgeon. I don't know how she does what she does but thank God for people like her that do. I work in the medical field as well but I have a very hard time working with children and the amount of life/death that she deals with on a daily basis would be hard to cope with especially those patients being all children.

The book does give more back story on her and her education than I really cared to read about. The book summary made it seem like it was all about what she does and her cases. That is the only reason it got 4 instead of 5 stars.

It was a great book and thank you Goodreads for letting me read it!

[Erik Sapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is actually a 3.5 star, but I felt it is too good to rate it at 3.

This book is very technical. There is a drawing of the human heart near the beginning of the book, and I would recommend keeping that location handy. (I didn't, which was a mistake.) The book is full of detailed descriptions of the surgeries conducted, and being able to visualize what she is doing would likely go a long way to making this book easier to understand.

The book is very well written. I like the way Mr. Oristano switches between telling the story in his words and the words of Dr. Guleserian. It made it very easy to follow and understand. The kids and their families who are profiled come across as real people (which, of course, they are). I really felt for the parents. And the story of the 13-year old boy had me in tears.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating story of an amazing woman. Not only has she succeeded in becoming an MD, she has gone on to become a pediatric cardio vascular surgeon. The stories of her interactions with patients and their families is so poignant. Some of these babies are so premature that their heart is the size of a walnut. So many times, she was able to perform surgery and save lives. I particularly enjoyed the drawings which made so much of what she does clearer. I highly recommend this book if you are interested in medicine, feminism or just want a good read. I could not put it down, i was so engaged by his and her story.

[Kerry Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr G is a paediatric heart surgeon and this is her story and a couple of her cases told by Mark Oristano.

I love true life stories and this was a fascinating read. It is her heavy on technical details but much of it is explained so didn't make it too hard to follow. The stories told of real cases are incredible and this book shows the true depth she went to saving their lives.

It's powerful and moving. Many of the success stories involved a tragedy for someone else and that was sensitively covered in the book. It's an incredible insight into the world and I loved learning about all the stages in s transplant.

[Doranne Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Oristano does an outstanding job capturing the working life of Dr. Kristine Gulersian, one of America's top pediatric heart surgeons. He provides intimate details of performing heart surgery, including transplants, on some of the tiniest patients, with specific medical, yet understandable, terms. This book is a helpful guide for all of us, including the need to be an advocate for those in need of the health care system. Mark writes well, with a sense of humor; and, if you are a Red Sox fan, you will love this book even more!!

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recevied a complimentary copy.

It takes a special person with a huge heart to want to help and pursue a career in this field especially working on children. While I am sure it pays well, it would seem this doctor is genuinely doing her job for the patients and not the pay, what I mean is that there is more heart then what is being worked on in this book. It is written well, but I feel like it could be more impactful if the doctor wrote it herself instead of a journalist.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing read! Found myself saying "wow" over and over knowing the behind the scenes of this dr's daily life. Impressed with how well written this book is. Being a nurse it was easy for me to understand the medical "lingo". But it still amazed me as I have never found myself in the pediatric field. That's one side of nursing that pulls more at the heart and hard to contain emotions when a child is sick or hurting.

[Aileen Lord · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a giveaway and thank you. It is the inspiring story of one woman's education and dedication as she becomes one of America's for most pediatric cardiothoraxic surgeons. It tells of some of her "special" young patients and their families. I was amazed at the amount of coordination and work involved in a heart transplant from both the donor and recipient ends. An thoroughly fascinating read

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for an honest review. If you enjoy the medical field, you will enjoy this book. I am a nurse of over two decades and found this very interesting. I became attached to the patients as their surgeries were explored. The added bonus of patients' pictures really pulls you in and grabs your heart. This book explains about Dr G. from medical school to the OR. Enjoy!

[Vnunez-Ms_luv2read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story about a wonderful woman/surgeon. Well written and holds your interest. I laughed, cried and was amazed. Blessings to Dr. G. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this wonderfully written book.

[Donna Siebold · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of Mark Oristano following Dr. Kristine Guleserian, one of America's top pediatric cardiac surgeons for some time. It includes descriptions of several cases. They are the successes and they are astonishing.

It is a an intense but quick read.

[Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Dr G! She is truly amazing and has a special gift.

[Linda Klager · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book about a remarkable woman.

[Lauren Ziegenbein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compilation of real patient stories this female pediatric heart surgeon treated and dealt with. Pretty inspiring and a lil introduction to pediatric heart surgery.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

“This is my world. You wanted to see it. Welcome to my life.”

Physicians are often the focal point of newscasts, novels and television series about triumphs, tragedies, or human errors – portraying too often the uncaring and cold new techno-doctor whose skills at times lack a sense of caring. Kristine Guleserian, MD the Surgical Director of Pediatric Cardiac Transplantation at Children’s Medical Center Dallas is a magnificent exception - a profoundly respected surgeon, and humanist, who represents the too rarely witnessed palpable caring doctor-patient relationship. Meet Dr G – a female thoracic surgeon who rises above the male centric field to stand for hours on an OR stool to perform dramatic pediatric heart transplants and follows those challenges with all the warmth, caring, and contagious enthusiasm for nurturing her patients and families – and her own joie de vivre for life outside the sacred OR. Dr. Guleserian is currently practicing pediatric cardiothoracic surgery with the Heart Program at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami, Florida.

Writer/journalist Mark Oristano readjusts the light in the OR to shine on this particularly fine real life lady surgeon in his book SURGEON’S STORY and in doing so restores an ideal, marking another highpoint for the author in raising the options and inspiration that will encourage other young women to enter roles cast in molds similar to the success and station of Dr G.
Mark demonstrates why he is THE observer/author best suited for this task of writing about a respected surgeon in his introductory remarks – ‘To see a human heart beating inside a chest is astonishing. I’d seen one in the OR before, from a distance, standing behind the anesthesiologist. But this was my first time observing a transplant. It was a teenage boy. His diseased heart was removed and placed in a small dish, put aside for later study by pathologists. I always try to walk carefully when I’m in the OR because I’m terrified of tripping over something, or getting in somebody’s way and screwing up the operation. This time I walked slowly, carefully, over to the dish. I got my first close look at a human heart, only inches away. And it moved. It beat. The heart was trying to pump blood that wasn’t there around the body to which it was no longer attached. The heart didn’t want to die. It pulsed about once every 30 seconds for the next ten minutes, before resting forever.’ Prose that approaches poetry, and that is the manner in which he writes his book.

Mark’s invitation into the life and work of Dr. Kristine Guleserian occurred ‘March, 2010. I was finishing up my weekly Tuesday afternoon volunteer shift at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas when Dr. Kristine Guleserian, pediatric heart surgeon, stopped me in the hallway. Dr. G is five feet tall, but “diminutive” isn’t a term to apply to her. A thick head of dark black hair, falling in waves over her white lab coat, frames sharp, probing eyes and highlights the features of her Armenian heritage. Her speech has an insistence that compels you to listen. “We’re transplanting today at four. It’s going to be an interesting one. You might want to come and observe.” So ... a quick text to my wife to tell her I’d miss dinner, then a change into surgical scrubs, followed by some food to prep for a long evening.’

In addition to the sensitive respectful drama of this book Mark provides significant amounts of information about the hospital, the staggering degrees of preparation to enter the realm of cardiothoracic surgery, impressive insights into cardiac function and congenital disease, his own scholarly preparation about cardiovascular disease as he spent volunteering at Children’s Medical Center, a teaching hospital that is part of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. Throughout this book he shadows Dr G., observing her manner with staff, patients and parents as she performs heart transplants – repairing the tiny hearts of tiny children. Stories of actual patients undergoing procedures, plentiful photographs of the patients and personnel and the complexities of the surgeries, descriptions of surgeries, excellent anecdotes and asides that inform the reader of the science of medicine all provide an involving read. But it is the personal history of Dr G. coupled with the aura of her persona that make this book not only a tribute to an important surgeon but to a great humanist lady.

Toward the end of this glimpse into the life and work of Dr G. she responds to Mark’s query about her perception of her work. ‘But then I was thrown into the field of cardiothoracic surgery. When I was beginning I looked around and there were very few female surgical mentors. It doesn’t mean that I didn’t have mentors, because some of my greatest mentors have been men. Not all of them have been cardiothoracic surgeons. But now, I feel like it’s up to me to be a role model for the younger generation coming through. Whether they are women or men doesn’t matter—just so I can offer them a different way of seeing a cardiothoracic surgeon.

[Susan Keefe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Follow the fascinating, exhilarating, yet heart-wrenching, medical journeys of pediatric heart surgeon, Dr G’s young patients at the Children’s Medical Center…

Dr Kristine Guleserian is a paediatric heart surgeon, and this fascinating book gives the reader a glimpse into her life, career, cases, and what has made her the incredible person she is today.

Congenital heart disease affects approximately 35,000 new born babies in the US alone each year, although it may not reveal itself straight away, sometimes never.

The problem may be discovered at, or just after birth, however, as medical techniques advance problems can be detected whilst the baby is still in the womb, and, if necessary a medical team can be in place to perform surgery straight away.

Like many remarkable people, Dr G, as she is known throughout the book, is humble and does not seek fame, ‘she’s a surgeon, not a writer,’ the author quotes (despite her numerous medical articles), and so he has the honour of shadowing this amazing lady, and telling her story.

I can promise the reader that they will find this book absolutely fascinating and heart-wrenching, as they follow the medical journeys of some of her young patients, discover the problems they faced, and how they were overcome, by Dr G and her amazing team.

One case in particular, I read with a mixture of dread, fear, anticipation and joy, the life journey of little Rylynn, which started pre-birth in the womb of her mother Andrea. Bonding through the story with her parents, having been the mother of a 13 week premature daughter who was born only weighing .635 of a gram, and is now 29 years old. I found it incredibly easy to slip back through the years to the time when I slept on a bed next to hers, and life echoed to the beeps of various monitors...

However Dr G doesn’t just make the dreams and prayers of her patients and their families come true, she also has that amazing capacity, which people in her profession have, of going the extra mile. A shining example of this is in the story of 13 year old Andrew Madden a patient who has a special none medical bond with her, and who attracts the attention of the media by being the 100th heart transplant at the Children’s Medical Center.

Getting personal, she recalls her childhood for the author, and we learn that her calling came at a very early age and was influenced by family and childhood incidents. With a passion for learning, and a loved Greek classics, sports, languages and music, this enquiring and knowledge hungry mind meant that she naturally enjoyed studying. This would prove an essential quality in the years to come, as she graduates from Harvard, and spends many years perfecting her knowledge in her chosen profession. To this day she maintains that you can never afford to stop learning.

Indeed as we look at her work, it is enlightening to see her life through the eyes of the patients, their relatives, her teams, and the students who are lucky enough to learn from her.

Whether you have an interest in pediatric heart problems, love the opportunity to peek into someone else’s life, or are considering a career in the medical profession, this book makes compelling reading. The volume of information and human interest content will have you riveted to every single page.

[Pamela Gossiaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Insider’s Tour With One of American’s Top Pediatric Heart Surgeons

In this detailed account with “a day in the life of” feel with a pediatric heart surgeon, we are given an insiders look at the amazing, life-saving world of American medicine.

Dr. Kristine Gulerserian has opened up her ER to writer Mark Oristano to create a compelling book that shows us a positive side of medicine, and the miracles that are performed on a daily basis to save the lives of others. Most touching to me, as a mother, are that her patients are children. Can you imagine literally holding the life of someone else’s child in your hands? How would that feel? Dr. G. does a great job of telling us just that.

Readers get to follow 2-year-old Rylynn, who was born with a heart defect that is often fatal. They get to see young Andrew, a baseball player, throw a ball in Fenway park 13 weeks after a heart transplant. They also get to follow the doctor on her rounds, consulting with parents, and of course, into the operating room itself. I have always wondered how surgeons worked for 14 hours straight in an operating room. Did they get to eat? Drink? Use the bathroom? This book answers those questions and more.

Also inspiring to me was Dr. G’s ascent in an often male-dominated field. She is not only a great surgeon, she is considered one of America’s best. This book is inspiring in so many ways, and co-writer Mark Oristano did a remarkable job of bringing it to life. There is even humor to round out the drama (certain parts brought this mother to tears!).

The book is full of photos of Dr. G at work (and in life), diagrams of heart problems, and even case notes. It’s a very compelling read. I highly recommend this book.

[John J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Oristano's fantastic journey into the science of the human heart and one heroic doctor who repairs and replaces them, "Surgeons Story," is an emotionally moving and awe-inspiring look into the daily magic and miracles performed in the Pediatric Heart Intensive Care Unit at Children's Medical Center in Dallas. It's also a partial biography of the book's heroine, Dr. Kristina Guleserion (or Dr. G. For short). The author, a former football play-by-play announcer, leaves the gridiron to capture quite magnificently the feel and flow of the microscopic, lifesaving surgeries that Dr. G. performs with such passion and mastery. Using everyday language, Oristano gives us a primer on heart surgery while also charting the career of one of the few female pediatric heart surgeons in America. The result of this in-depth look at life in the operating rooms of Children's Medical is a stunning and immensely dedicated group of professionals who save lives like some mechanics change oil and a portrait of a passionate and truly human heart surgeon who may not make headlines, but does God's work under a very bright light.

Oristano, himself fascinated with the workings of the most incredible machine, the human body, says he "shadowed Dr. G for seven years" in order to write this book. What he discovered in his travels make up the truly jaw-dropping stories contained in "Surgeons Story." Each chapter contains a new case study as we learn about the intricate, state-of-the-art medical equipment and procedures that are now routinely done in saving lives.

From the very first story which details the delicate handiwork done under the microscope to "correct a life-threatening cardiac abnormality on the surface of the heart of an 11 month old infant named Claudia, the author is at ease with his naturally well-tuned cadence and delivery. Oristano is familiar enough medically to explain even the most detailed surgeries as he wheels us along with Dr. G.'S medical cart inside The Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit with its multimillion dollar equipment all working in perfect synchronicity. You can almost hear the roar of the football crowd as Oristano describes "one patient (who) has ten IV drips, each one delivering a different life supporting medication - sedation, painkillers, antibiotics, anti-coagulants" hike, hike, hike. We also get to go deep into the family waiting rooms, as the author describes Dr. G's reassuring manner and then the long, painful delays with occasional interruptions to inform of progress during these surgeries.

In a way, this book is a thriller with the drama of the operating rooms, and a biography as Oristano details Dr. G's long and difficult ascent to her current job title in a historically male-dominated profession. Oristano shows what lengths the good doctor had to go to to break the glass ceiling; a litany of degrees and internships that is bound to serve as inspiration to any young female medical minds who read "Surgeons Story."

The author builds his stories to the book's inevitable climax, one that made this reviewer hungry for even more suspense and heroics. This is the kind of book in which you find yourself cheering for the doctors and worrying along with a constantly changing group of relatives and loves ones waiting to hear good news. In this book, Oristano shows that miracles are made material ever single day in this and other hospitals around the world. "Surgeons Story" teaches us about the miracles of our own bodies, the inner workings we take for granted and the passionate fight each day to fix the hearts of our most innocent infants. This is an uplifting book with its own heart of solid gold.