Saving Children's Hearts: The Joys and Personal Cost | Dr. Sanjiv Gandhi on Rachel Thexton Connects

What does it cost to dedicate your life to saving children's hearts? Pediatric heart surgeon Dr. Sanjiv Gandhi joins Rachel Thexton to discuss his memoir, Brave Cuts, the joys and realities of life-saving surgery, and why he ultimately stepped away from the operating room.A clinical professor of surgery at the University of British Columbia and former head of pediatric cardiothoracic surgery at BC Children's Hospital, Dr. Gandhi shares the experiences behind a career devoted to infants, children, and their families.Together, Rachel and Dr. Gandhi explore operating on tiny hearts, congenital heart defects, infant heart transplantation, and his perspective on both Canadian and American healthcare. They also discuss personal loss, physician mental health, the difficulty of finding balance, and what writing Brave Cuts helped him understand about his own life.In a moving closing moment, he reads from a letter written by a patient's mother and addressed to his children, recognizing the time they lost with him so their father could save someone else's child.CHAPTERS00:00 Introducing Dr. Sanjiv Gandhi01:36 The joys of saving children's hearts03:20 How he became a pediatric heart surgeon08:30 Brave Cuts: Why he wrote the memoir14:05 His son's response to his sacrifices17:52 Operating on a heart the size of a walnut20:07 Surgical training, mentorship, and self-doubt23:58 Why a surgeon still gets nervous25:21 Congenital heart defects: Every heart is different27:56 Heart transplantation and the infant transplant story33:36 Canadian vs. American healthcare40:12 The challenges facing Canadian healthcare44:14 Grief, patient loss, and physician mental health50:13 Protecting his health and stepping away from surgery51:15 Breaking down mental health stigma55:29 What he misses about being a surgeon58:55 Family, work-life balance, and regrets01:02:44 Vulnerability and the lessons of Brave Cuts01:04:19 The difference he made to patients and families01:05:43 The patient letters he will never forget01:08:03 A parent's letter to his children01:11:07 What the letter meant to his family01:13:36 Advice for young people considering medicine01:14:38 Closing reflectionsWhat stayed with you most: his son's response, the discussion about mental health, or the letter to his children? Share your thoughts below.Subscribe for more conversations with Rachel Thexton that encourage kindness and genuine connection.Get your copy of Brave Cuts by Dr. Sanjiv Gandhi for a deeply personal look at the joys, sacrifices, and unforgettable stories behind a life devoted to saving children’s hearts. https://www.bravecuts.com/https://www... #BraveCuts #PediatricHeartSurgery#SanjivGandhi #BraveCuts #PediatricHeartSurgery