Out of the blue and into the pink. Is it so rosy for the cardiologist?
There is a stage in one's career when one is mature enough to be invited to give named lectures. Usually, one has never heard of the 'named' person. This occasion is different because I know Dr Keith. (Dr John Keith died February 8, 1989, aged 80 years. Obituary in Can J Cardiol 1989;5[3]:XI). His book was my reference when I became excited by congenital heart disease and two days ago I had the pleasure of speaking to him, explaining the title which he said was "quaint and interesting." He reminded me that when he started the Canadian Cardiovascular Society with Dr Harold Segall there were only a handful of people who came together to discuss mutual problems in cardiology. Looking at the remarkable list of distinguished physicians and surgeons who have come before me to give this important lecture, I hope that I can do justice to the honour that you have given in asking me to be the John Keith Lecturer in 1988. The title of this lecture was born when I received a blue anniversary card covered with pink hearts from a once deeply cyanosed, chairbound girl with Ebstein's anomaly, 20 years after she had reparative surgery and lived a normal life, for which she thanked me. I passed the message to Donald Ross, with whom I have been privileged to work with for 25 years in the National Heart Hospital in London, United Kingdom and whose courageous innovations have created so much good life for many with complex congenital heart disease.
Somerville
J
J
Paediatric and Adolescent Unit, National Heart Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012086:Reoperation