“Sewed Up His Heart”

Fourth Grade, Open CourtUnit 3: From Mystery to Medicine

fatalsuturecolleaguescondemnationanesthesiaincision

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Selection Vocabulary: fatalUse context clues, word structure, and/or apposition to determine the meaning.

Heart wounds were usually considered fatal. (pg. 229)

The accident was not fatal. The driver survived.

fatal (adjective)—something that causes a person or animal to die

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Selection Vocabulary: sutureUse context clues, word structure, and/or apposition to determine the meaning.

“Any surgeon who would attempt to suture a wound of the heart,” the surgeon wrote, “is not worthy of the serious consideration of his colleagues.” (pg. 229)

It took six stitches to suture the cut on Marissa’s leg.

suture (verb)—stitch together a woundVuthny PrakPalmetto Elementary

Selection Vocabulary: colleaguesUse context clues, word structure, and/or apposition to determine the meaning.

“Any surgeon who would attempt to suture a wound of the heart,” the surgeon wrote, “is not worthy of the serious consideration of his colleagues.” (pg. 229)

Grandma’s colleagues came to the party to celebrate her retirement from nursing.

colleagues (noun)—people who work together in the same profession

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Selection Vocabulary: condemnationUse context clues, word structure, and/or apposition to determine the meaning.

If he opened the chest and Cornish died anyway, there would be certain condemnation from medical groups. (pg. 230)

Hannah’s condemnation made Lena regret her unkind words.

condemnation (noun)—strong disapproval

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Selection Vocabulary: anesthesia Use context clues, word structure, and/or apposition to determine the meaning.

He walked over and looked down at Cornish, now under the effects of anesthesia. (pg. 231)

The patient was given anesthesia so she would not feel anything during surgery.

anesthesia (noun)—something that causes people or animals not to feel pain during an operation

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Selection Vocabulary: incisionUse context clues, word structure, and/or apposition to determine the meaning.

Quickly, Dr. Dan made the incision, lengthening the stab wound to the right. (pg. 232)

The doctor stitched the small incision above the child’s eye.

incision (noun)—cut

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Background

biography of a famous historical figure Dr. Daniel Hale Williams (1856 -1931) famous for performing the first successful

heart surgery.founder of Provident Hospital in Chicago

(1891) --first interracial hospital and training

center for African-AmericansDr. Williams performed a heart surgery that

saved his patient, James Cornish. His courage to perform an operation that had never been performed before saved the lives of untold numbers of patients.

Vuthny PrakPalmetto Elementary