The Knife’s Edge: The Heart and Mind of a Cardiac Surgeon

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If you’re prepared and careful, however, the 360-degree view of the incredible rocky trail and inner basin are sights worth seeing. This is definitely worth the read but be prepared, its not always an easy book for a layman to get through. Earlier in the year I read and enjoyed the author's first part of his memoirs (Fragile Lives), and found it very emotional. In the first volume of his memoirs, Fragile Lives, he describes being plucked from the pub to assist in repairing an aorta torn in a road traffic accident.

The Knife’s Edge: The Heart and Mind of a Cardiac Surgeon The Knife’s Edge: The Heart and Mind of a Cardiac Surgeon

Stephen Westaby, as a workaholic trainee at Cambridge, got the nickname “Jaws” because of the speed with which he could amputate a limb. When I was about 8 my local GP diagnosed me with a heart murmur, all I can remember was suddenly being the center of attention and the tests that followed. We began to traverse across the ridge but got hung up for a brief moment where the trail seemed to disappear.

A man who gives a good account of himself is probably lying since any life when viewed from the inside, is simply a series of defeats. Some compassion for the sufferers and a slight change in administrative mindset can avoid many dangers, fears and risks to the ‘precious’ life. He shows limited empathy, is single minded, sacrifices everything for his own priorities which are usually to complete the latest operation. I said of course they could use it, but it sends out an SOS and then you can text with authorities, but it was not a Sat-Phone.

The Knife’s Edge by Stephen Westaby | Waterstones

I also appreciate the way the author has raised his questions on the working of a healthcare system that he believes to be lacking in advanced equipment and resources required for a job that is considered to be the toughest in the professional domain. The Knife Edge is a 150 foot jagged rock edge on the way to the summit that scares the living daylights out of climbers. The New England Outdoor Center is about a 45-minute drive from the park and offers a range of cabins and lodges to stay in, plus plenty of other outdoor activities and a view of Millinocket Lake and Mount Katahdin.K2 is known as such because it actually requires some technical climbing skills and some climbers claim that is more difficult than the Knife Edge itself. During the hike on Knife’s Edge I often thought about my friends Kym and Debbie and how this Knife’s Edge hike would be their worst nightmare. Westabys memoir of his life as a heart surgeon is insightful, and incredibly interesting, his sadness at the failing NHS we all know of is relatable, once the best health service in the world, now on its knees. Our route: Roaring Brook Campground parking, up the Helon Taylor Trail to Pamola Peak, across Knife Edge Trail to Baxter Peak, down Saddle Trail to Chimney Pond Trail and back to the parking area. More often than not I complain that medical memoirs feel slightly dumbed down and could do with a bit more technical rigor however with this memoir the technical aspects made me put down the book at the 75% mark and indulge in a day of lighter reading before picking this up again.