Something the Lord Made video Analysis 2

page 1 NAME ______________________________DATE _______________ block _____ Video Analysis – Something the Lord Made (HBO ( · Three main characters: Dr. Alfred Blalock Vivien Thomas Dr. Helen Taussig · Setting : o Vanderbilt University / Nashville, TN o Johns Hopkins University Hospital / Baltimore, Maryland Vocabulary/Prompt Definition / Response to Prompt Standard : L6 – Acquire and use accurately general academic and domain-specific words and phrases Congenital Present at birth or existing from birth. Cyanosis Bluish discoloration of the skin, lips, or nail beds due to inadequate oxygenation of the blood. What is an anastomosis ? An anastomosis is a surgical connection or joining of two blood vessels, hollow organs, or ducts. It allows for the flow of fluids or blood between them. Surgeons may perform anastomosis to restore blood supply, bypass damaged or blocked vessels, or create alternative pathways for the normal functioning of organs. What is a necropsy ? A necropsy, also known as an autopsy or post-mortem examination, is a medical procedure per - formed after death to determine the cause of death and understand the pathological changes in the body. It involves a thorough examination of the deceased person, including the organs, tissues, and body systems, to identify diseases, injuries, or abnormalities that may have contributed to their death. List three detailed characteristics for Tetralogy of Fallot (Blue Baby Syndrome .( ** Include information that you can understand. 1. Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD): Tetralogy of Fallot is characterized by a ventricular septal de - fect, which is a hole in the wall that separates the two lower chambers (ventricles) of the heart. 2. Pulmonary Stenosis: Pulmonary stenosis refers to the narrowing or obstruction of the pulmonary valve or the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the lungs. 3. Right Ventricular Hypertrophy: Due to the increased workload of pumping blood against the nar - rowed pulmonary valve, the right ventricle of the heart becomes enlarged and thickened. Summary/Comprehension Standard · RI3 :Analyze a complex set of ideas or sequence of events and explain how specific individuals, ideas, or events interact and develop over the course of the text. Describe the two reasons why Vivien Thomas operated on the hearts of dogs in Dr. Blalock ’ s research laboratory when he was preparing for the blue baby operations. Vivien and Dr. Blalock state this explicitly, so you will need to pay attention . 1 . It allowed them to gain a better understanding of the surgical techniques and procedures involved in treating heart conditions. By performing surgeries on dogs, they could refine their skills and develop new approaches before attempting the groundbreaking blue baby operations on human patients . 1 . Operating on dogs provided an opportunity to experiment and test the effectiveness of various surgical interventions. It allowed them to observe the physiological responses of the dogs hearts to different procedures, assess the outcomes, and make necessary adjustments to improve their techniques. This experimentation helped Vivien Thomas and Dr. Blalock refine their surgical methods and increase the likelihood of success when they

page 2 eventually performed the blue baby operations on infants . · Describe why was the surgery was called the “blue baby operation.” · What would cause a baby to turn blue? · Summarize what Vivien and Dr. Blalock would do to the heart to increase the oxygen flow · No need for medical terms, just your best explanation. The surgery was called the "blue baby operation" because it aimed to correct a condition known as "blue baby syn - drome" or heart disease. Babies with this condition have a reduced oxygen supply in their bloodstream, resulting in a bluish discoloration of their skin, lips, and nails. Vivien Thomas and Dr. Blalock aimed to increase the oxygen flow in these babies hearts through a surgical procedure. They would create a connection, known as a shunt, between an artery that carries oxygen rich blood and an artery that carries oxygen-poor blood. This shunt would bypass the problematic area of the heart, allowing more oxygen rich blood to reach the body. By increasing the oxygen supply, the baby's bluish color would improve, and their overall health would be enhanced. ·

page 4 Dr. Blalock recognized Thomas's talent, and they began working together. Together, they conducted research on the treatment of "blue baby syndrome" (cyanotic congenital heart disease) and pioneered groundbreaking surgical tech - niques. While Dr. Blalock valued Thomas's contributions and recognized his skills, it is worth noting that the racial seg - regation and discrimination prevalent during that time impacted their working relationship. Thomas faced significant challenges and inequalities in the field of medicine due to racial prejudice. Despite these obstacles, Dr. Blalock did sup - port Thomas in various ways: 1. Collaboration: Dr. Blalock actively collaborated with Thomas on research projects and surgical procedures. They worked side by side in the laboratory and operating room, with Thomas playing a crucial role in developing and refining surgical techniques. 2. Acknowledgment of Expertise: Dr. Blalock acknowledged Thomas's exceptional surgical skills and expertise. He rec - ognized Thomas's contributions to the field and often sought his input and advice during surgeries and research. 3. Authorship and Recognition: Dr. Blalock ensured that Thomas received co-authorship credit for their joint publica - tions. This recognition was significant, considering the racial biases prevalent at the time, which often marginalized African American scientists. While Dr. Blalock's support for Vivien Thomas was significant within the historical context, it is essential to acknowl - edge that Thomas faced discrimination and did not receive the same recognition and opportunities as Blalock. It was only later, with increasing awareness and recognition of Thomas's contributions, that his important role in the develop - ment of cardiovascular surgery began to be more widely acknowledged. · Why do you think Vivien Thomas caused such a controversy when he went out of the lab in his white lab coat ? What did that lab coat symbolize to Vivien and to others at the hospital ? · Your response may be related to race and the time period but dig deeper to show how other factors are at play. · Consider the doctors’ opinions about themselves and how that impacts the way the doctors treat other people, not just Vivien. ] · It is said that Vivien Thomas opened new paths to healing when most doors were closed to him. What is meant by that? How are the “ paths ” and “ doors ” a metaphor ? · Consider this: Healing can occur in more than one way; it can occur mentally, physically, in a single person, in groups of people, in society as a whole or a single person’s belief system. ·

page 5 A Study in Conflict Person What he or she wants What gets in the way A Study of Themes Standard · RI2 : Determine two or more central ideas of a text and analyze their development over the course of the text, including how they interact and build on one another to provide a complex analysis ; provide an objective summary of the text. Teamwork Dr. Blalock and Mr. Thomas were a team. What would have happened if either of them had not pulled his weight in the team effort ? · What far-reaching effect, even on the future, would there have been? o Your answer should be extensive and go beyond the surface. Trust When Vivien showed Dr. Blalock the new respirator, Dr. Blalock said, “ I knew I could count on you. You ’ re the only one I can trust around here. I suspect others relish the thought of seeing me fail ” · How does this express the most basic aspect of their relationship? o Your answer should include more explanation than a surface answer…describe more than just trust.

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