Alright, so today I’m gonna walk you through this little project I tackled – getting pictures during heart surgery. Sounds crazy, right? Well, it kinda was.
It all started with a friend of mine, whose dad was going in for a pretty serious bypass. He was super anxious, and I thought, “Hey, maybe seeing some pictures beforehand would ease his mind a bit?” I know, maybe not the best idea, but I figured it was worth a shot.
First hurdle: permissions. I mean, you can’t just waltz into an operating room with a camera. So, I started by talking to my friend, then his dad, and finally, the surgeon. Surprisingly, the surgeon was pretty cool about it! He understood the anxiety and was willing to work with us, as long as it didn’t interfere with the operation, and all HIPAA rules were followed. Big emphasis on that last part.
Next up, gear. My phone was a no-go. Too risky, too germy. I needed something sterile, or at least easily sterilizable. I ended up borrowing a small, ruggedized GoPro from a buddy. It was waterproof, shockproof, and, most importantly, could be wrapped in sterile plastic. I also snagged a few extra batteries and SD cards – you never know!
Then came the practice run. This was crucial. I didn’t want to be fumbling around during the actual surgery. So, I went to the hospital a day early and met with the surgical team. We went over the camera placement (above the operating table, pointing down), the lighting, and how to wrap the thing in sterile plastic. Turns out, wrapping things in sterile plastic is harder than it looks! Lots of air bubbles and awkward angles.
The day of the surgery, I was a nervous wreck. I arrived super early, got suited up in scrubs, and double-checked everything. Camera? Check. Batteries? Check. Sterile wrap? Triple check. I handed the camera off to a surgical tech who knew what to do, and they got it set up.
The surgery itself? I didn’t see much. I wasn’t allowed in the OR during the procedure, which was fine by me. I just waited outside, sweating bullets, hoping everything was going okay.
A few hours later, the surgeon came out, gave us the thumbs up, and handed me the SD card. He said the operation went smoothly, and they managed to get some decent footage. Relief washed over me like a tidal wave.
Back home, I dumped the footage onto my computer. And wow… it was intense. Not gonna lie, it was hard to watch some of it. But there were also moments of incredible precision and skill. It was truly fascinating.
I edited together a short slideshow of the least graphic pictures – mostly just before and after the actual cutting. Then, I showed it to my friend’s dad. He was… surprisingly calm. He said seeing the equipment and the team put him at ease. It made the whole thing feel less abstract and scary.
Lessons learned?
- Never underestimate the power of visual information.
- Hospitals are surprisingly accommodating if you ask nicely and respect their rules.
- Sterile plastic is the bane of my existence.
Would I do it again? Probably not. It was a lot of stress and responsibility. But I’m glad I did it this time. It made a real difference for someone I cared about.
