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The Surgeon With a Filmstar FaceWho Became an Overnight Celebrity
He made a big difference in the world. From the tip of Africa, and also had an impact on my life
Can someone really make a difference in this world? I don’t mean small stuff, because I believe all of us can. I mean the really big stuff. Helping a person live longer, actually grabbing them from the clutches of death.
Breaking ground so that other people can follow and also save lives. This required courage and determination. Dr. Cristiaan Barnard of South Africa was the first person to do a human heart transplant.
A 1st for South Africa
On 3 December 1967 Professor Christiaan (Chris) Barnard did the first human to human heart transplant in the world. This historical event took place at The Groote Schuur hospital in Cape Town South Africa.
On Saturday, I was a surgeon in South Africa, very little known. On Monday, I was world-renowned. — Dr Cris Barnard