Vladimir Almazov, an outstanding Russian cardiologist, keeps a jar with a human heart preserved in alcohol in his office. All his stude...
Vladimir Almazov, an outstanding Russian cardiologist, keeps a jar with a human heart preserved in alcohol in his office. All his students know the story behind it.
In the early ’50s, when Dr. Almazov was still a fourth-year student at the First Medical Institute of Saint Petersburg, a young lady was admitted to the clinic with a diagnosis of subacute bacterial endocarditis. Even today, the terrifying disease has a very high death toll, so back then it was almost certainly fatal.
The girl was considered beyond help. She had a high, constant fever and her heart was failing. The leading professors examined her with no real positive results, and, as it went, they were followed by a whole lot of medical interns. Among them was Dr. Almazov’s classmate, a very diligent and talented student.
He didn’t propose any revolutionary treatment method for endocarditis, nothing like that — he simply fell in love with the dying girl. The intern visited her every day, bringing her flowers. She eventually came to love him too... and began to recover, slowly but most assuredly.
They got married, had kids, and invited the girl’s doctors to their silver wedding anniversary. And when, after many long years, she lay on her deathbed, she bequeathed her heart to the First Medical Institute. It will always serve as a reminder that the only cure for a sick heart is a loving one.
Source: http://brightside.me/
