Forward
By Michael-Joshua Morris @LVADone NYC 2017
Just sitting in my wheelchair and being pushed into an elevator by an entourage of people in matching blue scrubs…. “Hello Mr. Morris. We will be spending the next 6-8 hours with you in the OR.” I looked up at the sea of blue and thanked them for their passion in what they do, adding “Is there a perfusionist in the house? Are any of you perfusionists?” Immediately all smiled and laugh.
“I admit it’s a funny question but I’m serious.” I said amidst the laughter as the elevator doors started to close.
“Actually, we aren’t laughing at you, but surprised that a patient knows about a perfusionist, let alone the word ‘perfusion’ and then asking for the perfusionist!”
I quickly understood as this profession tends to be a selfless and thankless job of unsung heroes. A perfusionist’s chief responsibility is to mechanically simulate the patient’s beating heart and breathing lungs while the patient’s own organs are intentionally stopped during the open heart surgery.
Now… during the elevator ride, a perfusionist identified himself and asked me, “how did you know about perfusion?”
I told him “I Googled it!”
More laughter erupted inside the elevator as my wheelchair was pushed towards the opening doors and out onto the floor.
“Yes, I Googled it, watched some YouTube videos and absorbed as much as I could. In fact has anyone heard of Frank Aprile? He has a great informative and well written blog that makes complex things understandable and intriguing.”
I went on to tell them that “Frank and I ended up as friends and brothers-in-arms in ‘the war of heart failure’.” I added, “So this is how I came to appreciate and understand what Frank does as a perfusionist — he embraces the patient’s life in orchestrating a mechanical hug, as the surgeon is tooling away at the repairs needed on my heart.”
The perfusionist who escorted me to the OR seemed marveled and beamed, “Now I’ve heard everything — a patient who knows what a perfusionist does and who knows Frank Aprile!”
I joined in the laughter, and as I chuckled, asked, “You know Frank Aprile?”
“Of course I do — we all do. We know him because of his internationally known blog. Frank Aprile’s vision finds the hidden humor, art and sanity within the chaotic symphony of perfusion. Frank’s blog, in many ways, keeps us perfusionists smiling, balanced and grounded.”
Frank’s passion for his field and blog speaks volumes; depicts a beautiful mosaic of perfusion perspectives and also a splendid array of written and visual snapshots, prose and art galleries from perfusionists around the world.
Perfusionists have complex jobs, performing heart-stopping feats. I often call them as – my band of good pirates; onboard their vessel called the Time Bandit, handing out treasures of life and cheating death.
In Frank’s new book: The Tip’s of Spears: An Inside Look at Cardiac Surgery in America.
Inside this book, Frank exhibits his storytelling skill with his artful knack of assembling phrases and paragraphs into an enjoyable Hemingway-esque read. Chapter after chapter, Frank’s book fills the reader’s mind with fluid and colorful visions.
As an occupation, the gripping journey of the life of a perfusionist may not be good for the weak minded, however as a book, Frank’s book is brilliantly written; leaving all readers informed and empowered.
It is ironic that Frank calls me a hero, where he and all perfusionists are the real heroes… perhaps we all are heroes, the way a Bull Rider straps to a bull and completes his or her 8 second ride.
Michael-Joshua Morris
NYC
2019 (2020)
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Pump Strong!
Frank Aprile BBA, LP, CCP
Author:
The Tips of Spears: An Inside Look at Heart Surgery in America
Publication Release Date: Aug 13 2025
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Editor and Founder:
The Tips of Spears... 