Heart of Cape Town Museum

Today we visited the Heart of Cape Town Museum. We experienced the drama of the first heart transplant which gave the world new hope.

It was a fantastic outing which brought alive the characters of the surgeon, Chris Barnard, as well as the donor and recipient. This amazing feat was performed on 3 December 1967, just 14 days before I was born. The operation was performed at Groote Schuur Hospital . I remember going there as young child with my father, a neurosurgeon, and waiting for him as he checked on patients or had to do emergency operations. I had forgotten about those days but the memories flooded back as we visited there today.

The museum honours the skill and wisdom of the heart transplant team and gives one an almost tangible insight into the lives of the donor and recipient. We visited the original theatres where the operation took place and history was made.

The children found it really interesting , especially Keren who was totally fascinated by everything. Perhaps we have another doctor or nurse in the making?

“Success begins with a fellow’s will: It’s all in the state of the mind” (From Walter D. Wintle’s inspiring poem, often quoted by Barnard).