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We all owe a debt of gratitude to the man who made it happen – Dr Christian Barnard who in 1967 on the 3rd of December performed and carried out the first human heart transplant - this most memorable medical happening of all time was to take place atGroote Schuur Hospital on a patient named Louis Washkansky who sadly to say only lived for 18 days after Dr Christian Barnard gave him hope with a heart transplant. The cause of death was put down to pneumonia. His new heart beat strongly to the end
Christian Barnard was born in the town of Beaufort West, on the edge of the great Karoo, South Africa in the year of 1922. He went on to make history because of his contribution to the medical world. Bernard’s father was a holy man (preacher) and he had three brothers (four boys in total) He was a talented boy and did well with school studies where he learned to play music and sport, but he later made the decision to study medicine at the University of Cape Town and how thankful we all are for that. The roots of his future came to the fore when one of his patients delivered a baby boy with a heart defect which could not be remedied. Sadly the infant died, thus giving Christian Barnard room for thought. It was because of this sad event and loss of life that helped Barnard to foresee the need for remedial surgery and the replacement of heart valves. Back in Cape Town where he was furthering his education in doctorate Medicine, it was heart surgery which would pre-occupy him. The heart-lung machine was in its infancy stages in the US and at the time was considered too being too dangerous to use in surgical procedures. Christian Barnard commenced with his research and continued working in converted rooms at night at minimal expense. He was not to give up on his findings and went onto give hope to millions. Christian Barnard was a pioneer of organ transplants and will forever hold his title as the first to ever swap a heart. Barnard died on vacation in 2001. |
