As the head of the Cardiovascular Surgery Clinic in Zabrze, the scientist had previously in 1985 carried out Poland’s first open heart transplant procedure.
Due to Tadeusz Zitkevits’ senior age, none of the other physicians had consented to the procedure, but he wanted to personally treat the 61-year-old. In August 1987, the graft was deemed appropriate.
Religa notified the patient very away, and the procedure was set up right away. At the conclusion of the day, American photographer James Lee Stanfilnt noticed Religa.
James went there for National Geographic, looking for a picture that would show how the nation’s health system has deteriorated after the end of Soviet assistance. Due to personnel shortages and unpredictable circumstances,
Religa was unable to sleep after spending 23 hours in the operating room. He kept vigil next to his patient, nervously checking his health status on the monitors.
