I wanted to share this incredible piece of family history.
This photo is of a 7‑year‑old girl who became one of the first children to undergo open‑heart surgery at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston. Her surgery was performed in 1973 by Dr. Denton Cooley, a pioneer in cardiovascular surgery whose work helped shape the future of pediatric heart care.
At the time, open‑heart surgery on children was still extremely rare and risky. The fact that she not only survived but went on to live a full life is a testament to the medical breakthroughs happening in Houston during that era — and to the courage of the families who trusted a brand‑new frontier of medicine.
Thought this community might appreciate a glimpse into how far medical science has come, and how brave these early patients truly were.
by The-PH
1 Comment
To also add to the history of this.
what is on her bedside is called a “Bird” ventilator. One of the first automatic ventilators every made. it was all pneumatic no electronics
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forrest_Bird