Sifting through the sands of time has been a wonderful journey bringing back memories long forgotten ever since @ericvancewalton started posing questions for Memoir Mondays.
This week's question has been particularly challenging for me, as I have been around for a little over seven decades, so there was a load of sifting to do before I could respond to:
What's the first major news story you can remember living through as a child?
The most memorable and meaningful major news event I would like to talk about, is the first successful heart transplant in the world, which happened right here on South African soil, in Cape Town, at the Groote Schuur Hospital on 3 December 1967.
The cardio-thoracic surgeon who performed that first transplant, Dr. Christiaan Barnard, became an overnight sensation.
Louis Washkansky was the first recipient and only lived for eighteen days after the heart transplant, not due to the new heart, but because the drugs that were given to suppress this new foreign organ also destroyed his body's immunity, and he contracted pneumonia, which was what ultimately caused his death.
Immunosuppressants to prevent organ rejection have vastly improved, saving the lives of thousands of people whose organs fail to the point where the only option is a transplant.
Had they not performed this groundbreaking surgery, Washkansky would have died in any case.
Photo taken by me at the Blueberry Cafe, Netherwood Farm, that belongs to a world-renowned cardio-thoracic surgeon, Dr. Rob Kleinloog
I was already 14 at the time, and remember the excitement but also the controversy about this amazing feat that happened right here in our country.
There were many questions, debates and theories which I remember:
Is it morally right to transplant an organ, especially a heart? People with strong religious beliefs felt it went against the law of nature.
When Washansky died 18 days after the procedure, many skeptics felt that they were right, but that of course was disproved.
Some absurd questions were raised about whether the recipient would not develop the same traits as the organ donor!
Of course, we now know that a couple of thousand people annually undergo successful heart transplants worldwide.
Why did this event come to mind when I was trying to tap into my brain's memory bank?
A very close friend who lost her younger son in a car crash was devastated to learn that her older son desperately needed a heart transplant. He was in and out of hospital during the five-year wait for a suitable heart, but did not let this stop him from making the best of his life.
His determination must have played a role in him surviving the long waiting period for a new heart.
During that long waiting period, my friend and her family attended many organ donor awareness campaigns. Here in South Africa one can register online with the Organ Donor Foundation.
When the phone call came to say a suitable heart had been found, there was much excitement and joy, but also sadness for the family who lost a loved one.
Co-incidentally, the cardio-thoracic surgeon who did the heart-transplant, also did my hubby's first triple bypass in 2002, which in fact 'outlived' him; it was a different artery that was damaged that led to his passing.
While hubby was alive, we visited the Blueberry Cafe on Netherwood Farm and were pleasantly surprised to discover the farm belonged to the same surgeon.
Rewinding back to that eventful day of 3 December 1967, one can imagine the trepidation by Dr. Chris Barnard, the heart recipient, the surgical team, as well as the family.
If it were not for this ground-breaking surgical procedure by ‘The surgeon who dared’, many lives would have been lost.
To end my story about the the first major news event I remember living through as a child, my wish is that many more people become aware of, and consider, becoming an organ donor, which will save the lives of many!
Thank you Eric, for challenging us with these questions which are awakening many long-forgotten memories, and that they now are stored here in Hive, my forever memory bank!
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Fascinating, Lizelle! I had no idea the first successful heart transplant was in SA! My best friend (@luckyfellow) had congestive heart failure and was on the transplant list for years. He received his heart from an 18 year old accident victim on Christmas Eve 2015. I Christmas he'll never forget. Almost ten years later he's happy, healthy, and leading a normal life. It's truly a miracle.
Very heartfelt post. Thanks for sharing.
Hey @luckyfellow, I see you were also the recipient of a new heart. I can imagine how difficult that long wait must have been for you and your family! I am so glad you're doing well. My friend's son is back to cycling again, as fit as a fiddle. What a gift of life, if only more people would donate their organs!
That's awesome Eric!
My housekeeper Cynthia reminded me that her Mom also received a new heart many years ago, and that the famous Dr Chris Barnard was the surgeon. Interestingly, when I Googled to see when he passed away, I read that he was offered a scholarship at the University of Minnesota, whereafter he started performing open heart surgery back in South Africa.
Thank you for stirring up all these memories Eric.
Enjoy your weekend!
What an interesting story, of course a shocking news that had great repercussion in the world and touched his life.
It's been a few weeks now of Memory Mondays, I always want to join, I make a mental effort to remember and get nothing, 😔😌 I'm having a hard time remembering things. I want the memory to come naturally, I will keep trying.
Hi @soyunasantacruz, believe me, sometimes I just cannot remember much, but once I sit down and start typing, the memories come flooding back. #memoirmonday has been a wonderful walk down memory lane!
Woah, now that's a topic that you don't see every day on the chain! But as fascinated as I am, as little I can comment about it because of my lack of knowledge. However, I always said that when I won't longer be part of this world, I'd like my organs to be donated as it would make me live through numerous bodies which gives a great amount of excitement knowing that you can save lives even when you no longer belong here.
Yes, I feel exactly like you do. It's vital to register with an organ donor foundation in your country, but also to let your loved ones know. They say that one donor can save 8 lives and enhance over 75 more, to me that would make my life more meaningful after death!
Exactly!! Hope you have a lovely weekend, dear!
Oh how interesting! I didn't realize that was part of South African history! My grandfather was a heart transplant recipient (from a young man in a motorcycle accident) in the late 80's I believe. He went on to live over a decade longer and only passed in 2000 of other ailments. Because of that I have always checked the organ donor box on my license! Amazing how far medical treatment has advanced to give people a new lease on life who otherwise would be out of options. 💚
Yes, it was big news here, but of course, with anything new, there were always skeptics. Imagine just how many lives were and still are saved.
That's wonderful to hear about your grandfather @plantstoplanks, and that he died of something unrelated.
The Organ Donor Foundation here in SA is always doing awareness campaigns.
If I were to lose a loved one, I would much rather know that their organs would give someone else a chance of living.
I registered with the ODF a couple of years ago, as even older people's bone tissue, cornea, skin, etc can be used. Hubby wanted to register, but as a type 1 diabetic, he never got around to asking the question of whether he could. I was in too much of a shock to even think of that at the time.
I must get a sticker for the car window but have told my children.
When you authorize the use of your organs as a donation, you are saving lives. That's great. I know of cases of living donors where a brother donated a kidney to his sister and they lived for many years. An act of love. Thank you friend for sharing such a beautiful story.🥰❤️
That truly is an act of love. A friend I worked with did the same for a family member.
So many people still are hesitant to donate their organs, but I suppose they have their reasons.
My question to them is, would you say no to receiving a life-saving organ?
Thank you for your valued comments @mamani 💕
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Thank you @hive-buzz, appreciate the stats, great motivation 👏
All good @lizelle! You're amazing on Hive! Don't stop now, achieve that new goal!
Thank you for your wonderful encouragement, much appreciated 🌻 🙏
What an interesting blog @lizelle , thank you for sharing this to us here in Hives
I'm so glad you enjoyed it @kyyyys
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Thank you for reading.
It was a act of service maam, you truly save the live of others.
Very true, I hope many more people register as organ donors.