First published 2010
Dr. Kathy Magliato stands among the rare women practicing heart surgery worldwide. She belongs to an even smaller circle of surgeons trained in heart transplantation. This memoir reveals how she navigates the physically demanding, male-dominated field while raising two young boys and maintaining her marriage to a liver transplant surgeon. Magliato shares stories of patients whose lives she has touched, including a baby with a hole in her heart, a ninety-four-year-old woman facing a deadly aortic tear, and a thirty-five-year-old movie producer who saved herself by recognizing heart attack symptoms. The book illuminates the overlooked signs of cardiovascular disease, which kills more women than any other condition in America. Magliato describes the daily reality of her dual existence, from operating rooms where she fights to save lives to bedside tables cluttered with pagers that ring through the night. She celebrates patient victories and mourns their losses personally. The memoir captures both the rewards and costs of pioneering work in a demanding profession while striving to balance family and career.
Genres: medical, non-fiction, biography-memoir
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: overcoming-adversity, work-life-balance
261 pages · Hardcover · Crown Archetype