Breakthrough! How Three People Saved "blue Babies" and Changed Medicine Forever

Breakthrough! tells the powerful true story of the 1944 medical innovation that allowed doctors to repair the hearts of infants suffering from 'blue baby syndrome.' The book centers on the collaborative efforts of Dr. Helen Taussig, Dr. Alfred Blalock, and especially Vivien Thomas, an African American surgical technician whose ingenuity and skill were instrumental in developing the procedure. It not only details the scientific challenges and triumphs but also unflinchingly addresses the racial prejudice Thomas faced, highlighting his perseverance and the injustice of his unrecognized genius. This is an excellent choice for children aged 8-11, offering a rich blend of history, science, and social commentary.

In 1944 an unprecedented surgical procedure repaired the heart of a child with blue baby syndrome lack of blood oxygen caused by a congenital defect. This landmark operation opened the way for all types of open heart surgery.The team that developed it included a cardiologist and a surgeon, but most of the actual work was done by Vivien Thomas, an African American lab assistant who was frequently mistaken for a janitor.