Walk on Water: The Miracle of Saving Children's Lives

I read this book while my son was still hospitalized due to his serious heart defect. We had already been thrown into the world of CHD and it was nice to read about others in the same position. It was a great insight to the surgeons and what really goes on in the OR. It might be too much for some parents to know all the details, but I am the person who wants to know it all. I couldn't put this book down. It was so well written and as it tells a story, it also gives great information about many types of heart defects. As I was finishing the book, my son was on his last attempt to extubate before they were going to do a tracheostomy. We were discouraged because they said he was doing so well and we would be home within 10 days, and then they said he would probably need a tracheostomy due to breathing problems from the heart defect. The last line of the book said something to the effect of "you are your child's ultimate advocate." After I read that I knew I had to go to the docs the next day and demand they give him more time to show them he could breathe on his own. It proved to be the right thing. After a long 99 day stay, mostly due to airway complications, our son came home within a couple weeks, without a tracheostomy.

The book is not in my possession now, as many family members have asked to read it and it is making the rounds. It helps family members to understand CHD better, the surgeries, and what we have gone through. Can't say enough good about this book!

Wow! This will move into my all-time favorites list! The careful, insightful documentation of what goes on in a pediatric clinic was absolutely fascinating. It was the perfect balance between medical/technical detail and the psychology/emotionality involved in treating babies and young children with heart problems. From time to time, I'd be distracted by thoughts such as - "How did he (Rulman) do this? How many hours did he spend at the Cleveland Clinic to get this much rich information? How much did he have to learn about pediatric heart surgery to write so well?" I loved it, absolutely loved it.

My daughter was born with a heart defect in 2007. She had had one open-heart surgery by the time I was introduced by word-of-mouth to this book. I can't say how important it was to me as a parent to read this book. It gives an insider's view of the world of congenital heart surgery and if you are a parent who wants to know what doctors really think and do, you have to read this - if you are a parent who wants to put all of your faith in the perfection of doctors, then don't read it. My family is very grateful that things have turned out well for my daughter, who is now 15 months, and can't thank her healthcare team enough... but if she needs another surgery, we are going to go to one of the surgeons mentioned in the book. We'll fly her to another state - whatever it takes to get the very best care for her. I hope if you are looking at this book because someone you love has a heart defect, that things turn out well for you, too. What a living nightmare. Read the book.

Walk on Water: The Miracle of Saving Children's Lives by Michael Ruhlman is a first-rate read.

This excellent book is about pediatric cardiac surgery, following surgeon Roger Mee, MD for two years and includes many look-backs at the history of inventions, innovations and the people that have brought this unique specialty to where it is today. The book also follows actual patients from the point that Dr. Mee receives the first call from the referring physician to final the final medical outcome and beyond. Walk on Water combines terrific writing with a high level of technical research and accuracy. This is the best book of this genre I've read to date.

The book was well written. A must read for anyone having to deal with pediatric heart problems. My daughter is a cardiac surgeon and verified that it is accurate. My only complaint was that the print was misaligned and located close to the binding on a lot of the pages which made reading very annoying.

My son was operated on by Dr Mee in 2001 when this book was being written. I met the author and spent time with him in a question and answer. This is an extremely accurate book.

My son is one of the kids on this book. It was so hard to read these stories and even the one about my son had me crying. It is tough being one of these parents. I almost lost my son 4 times. His other surgeries he had a rough recovery. DR. Roger Mee os the best hands down. Recovery was half and he did so well. I did not know before his birth he had anything wrong. I recommend this book so people understand what struggles and hardships these babies go through. God Bless Roger New. My son is now 18 years old.

great read!

Excellent book

While I knew Mr Ruhlman as an author of cooking books, I didn't know how well or thorough a writer he is on other topics. He writes with such depth and passion, I felt like was there. Excellent.