Off Topic? - Presenting a book review that may be of interest to you

January 24, 2009

Dear Friends,

Sai Ram. I am sharing with you the review of a book that I read recently. Since

the book is related to health, I am sharing the review with my friends in

several health groups in addition to the usual review sites.

Regards.

Swamy

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Title: Nick's New Heart

Sub-Title: The True Story of Love, Strength, and Courage

Author: Susan May

Publisher: Tiger Iron Press

ISBN: 0-9787263-2-4

Genre: Biography, Medical, Coping

Presentation: Hard Bound with dust jacket

I love medical books, especially the ones written by laymen and those written

for laymen by doctors. So, when a chance came to review this book, I agreed

readily and I am happy that I agreed!

Susan writes well and the editors also did a wonderful job in keeping the flow

smooth. The story is gripping and the saying, " Truth is stranger than fiction "

is so true in this case. The problems with Nick (Nicholas) start early, almost

immediately after his birth and continue into the childhood, culminating in a

heart transplant surgery 17 years ago! The book is about the drama, the trauma

and the wonderful doctors and the support groups that helped the baby live and

that too with a fairly high quality of life!

There are a few typos but they won't distract you, the reader (I could not help

seeing them because I am a reviewer and editor myself). I was left wondering why

Susan did not write this book earlier when pediatric heart transplants were not

that common and when her book could have reached out and gave new hope and

courage to thousands of affected parents all over the world. Now, pediatric

heart surgeries including heart transplants are much more common and there is

lot more information in the form of books, articles etc. I was reading a

wonderful letter from Dr. Devi Shetty of Bangalore (Bengaluru now), a leading

pediatric cardiac surgeon who has performed 4000+ surgeries on children and the

letter was addressed to the children. Ask me for the link to that letter if

interested. He does the surgery free!

All in all, reading this book was moving and inspiring. I recommend the book

strongly if you or some one you know have any interest in health matters,

especially relating to children, surgeries etc.

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