Origin of Little Hearts, Lifelong Impact

I think it’s fair to say that much of the impetus, if not most, in getting me moving to write this book came from my dear wife Katherine. As my companion in the journey of life for the last 30 years, Katherine has lived with me through many of the ups and downs, the triumphs and the tragedies of my career in cardiac surgery. Being the wife of a surgeon in any subspecialty and most definitely congenital cardiac surgery, is an emotional roller coaster that requires a strong psyche grounded on a solid foundation of granite. And surely Katherine has just that, the emotional and psychological strength to not only endure but to thrive in the tough environment that permeates the world of the congenital surgeon. But more than living through the good and the bad, Katherine has had to listen to my many anecdotes too many times, whether recounting my fishing experiences in New Guinea, the challenges of teaching surgeons in China or learning new operations in Boston. “You must put your life down in print”. And following my full retirement from the world of cardiac surgery, I had the time and the support to do just that.