W. Gerald Rainer interviews Gerard Brom on April 21, 1976. This is the sixth interview in the Pioneers in Cardiac Surgery series. Dr. Brom reflects on early cardiac surgery in Europe.
My husband, H. W. B., was born in Andijk, North Holland, Netherlands, in 1950. He was blue at birth which lasted about one year. He was diagnosed with VSD and coarctation of the aorta. In 1958, Dr. Brom did the surgical repair in Leiden. My husband is about to turn 66, and has lived a healthy life. Due to reduced circulation to his lower extremities before age 8, his legs did not develop normal strength, but he walks with a "difference" and has never let it slow him down. He was diagnosed with diabetes at age 28, for which he uses insulin, metformin, a blood pressure tablet and a cholesterol-lowering drug. He also uses a mild blood thinner. He survived T1 N0 M0 colon cancer in 2009. I am grateful to the person who shared this interview with and photo of Dr. Brom. We listened to it together and it was amazing to hear the voice of the man who saved his life all those years ago.
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