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How to Do a Liver Transplant: Stories from My Surgical Life
As a female surgeon, Dr. Kellee Slater works in one of the most demanding areas of medical operations, liver transplantation. In this inspiring, heartbreaking, and darkly humorous memoir, she opens up the fast-paced world of donor surgery. She takes readers with her as she flies across the Rocky Mountains in winter to collect transplant organs, rushes out of a department store change room to save the life of a toddler who is choking to death, and, horrifyingly, tells the wrong father in a hospital waiting room that there is no hope for his daughter. An ideal read for anyone with an interest in modern medicine, this inspirational memoir portrays both the joyous and difficult experiences of one of the most demanding jobs in the world.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
15 people are currently reading
299 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
June 24, 2017
There are very few books I will start at 7pm and not put down until I've read it through. This is on them. Working with Kellee (in the background as a nurse on a hepatobilary ward) is an honour and I have never met a patient that can say anything less than that she is a life changing woman who you can never forget for her kindness. I recommend this to anyone but I found a special value in it. 5 STARS!
January 30, 2019
Read this before starting my medical degree at the very same University and it did nothing but affirm my decision to study medicine. Kellee's stories showcase the highest highs and lowest lows of life in medicine, particularly in her specialty as a hepatobiliary transplant surgeon. Great read for anyone that enjoys medical memoirs (e.g. think Henry Marsh but less philosophical and more medicine focused) or any want-to-be medical students.
September 21, 2015
In terms of content, this is a fascinating (and often gruesome) account of the life and career of a female transplant surgeon who is currently practising in Brisbane. No holds are barred, and the blood flows freely ... a little too freely in fact. For someone like me - with a weak stomach for bodily functions - it's a miracle I got past the first chapter, entitled 'I was born to be a general surgeon' (which clearly I was not).
If you are considering a surgical career, and if you are a young woman, this book is a must read.
So, why only three stars?
I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the narrative which tells how Kellee Slater stumbled into a life-saving profession and the difficulties she had to overcome. She has dumb-downed surgical procedures and anatomy so that a non-medical person can understand. But, by the middle of the book, I was over reading about operations and gore and dealing with death. My interest plateaued and then ran downhill from there, largely due to too much of the same thing. A good edit would easily solve the problem and I'm surprised the publisher didn't insist on this at the outset.
'How to do a Liver Transplant' is not a literary masterpiece. It is a genuine, 'warts and all' account of the mental and physical challenges of saving lives on a daily basis (and sometimes losing them too). Enjoy the book for what it is. And next time you talk to a surgeon, thank them for the personal sacrifices they make in order to make us well.
If you are considering a surgical career, and if you are a young woman, this book is a must read.
So, why only three stars?
I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the narrative which tells how Kellee Slater stumbled into a life-saving profession and the difficulties she had to overcome. She has dumb-downed surgical procedures and anatomy so that a non-medical person can understand. But, by the middle of the book, I was over reading about operations and gore and dealing with death. My interest plateaued and then ran downhill from there, largely due to too much of the same thing. A good edit would easily solve the problem and I'm surprised the publisher didn't insist on this at the outset.
'How to do a Liver Transplant' is not a literary masterpiece. It is a genuine, 'warts and all' account of the mental and physical challenges of saving lives on a daily basis (and sometimes losing them too). Enjoy the book for what it is. And next time you talk to a surgeon, thank them for the personal sacrifices they make in order to make us well.
September 28, 2021
I loved this book firstly because it was a medical book (you can't really go wrong with them) and secondly I haven't read a medical book from a females perspective, including pregnancy and all it was very insightful.
November 21, 2024
I don't often post reviews of books, but I need to for this one.
I am in the extremely privileged club of being a liver transplant recipient, as well as the occasional patient of Dr. Slater during clinics at the Queensland Liver Transplant Service.
I purposely waited a while after my transplant before reading this book (my transplant was 5 years ago), and I'm glad I waited! It would have been too much to read this book while I was progressing towards transplant, or soon after.
Now, with a bit of time after the transplant and the inevitable roller coaster afterwards, this book was a marvellous look behind the curtain of all the commotion that happens around people like me (and the donors that miraculously keep us alive).
I found the accounts in the book heartbreaking, inspiring, and terrifying with each next chapter. My already sky-high opinion of the people I owe my life to has somehow increased even more.
Thank you to all the transplant doctors, nurses, donors, and of course all their families, for giving me more time to spend with mine.
I am in the extremely privileged club of being a liver transplant recipient, as well as the occasional patient of Dr. Slater during clinics at the Queensland Liver Transplant Service.
I purposely waited a while after my transplant before reading this book (my transplant was 5 years ago), and I'm glad I waited! It would have been too much to read this book while I was progressing towards transplant, or soon after.
Now, with a bit of time after the transplant and the inevitable roller coaster afterwards, this book was a marvellous look behind the curtain of all the commotion that happens around people like me (and the donors that miraculously keep us alive).
I found the accounts in the book heartbreaking, inspiring, and terrifying with each next chapter. My already sky-high opinion of the people I owe my life to has somehow increased even more.
Thank you to all the transplant doctors, nurses, donors, and of course all their families, for giving me more time to spend with mine.
July 23, 2025
This was an interesting book, but not the one I thought it would be. I had expected a brief introduction, then a series of interesting stories related to a life of surgery. This isn't that - it's a memoir, straight and simple.
Reading the memoir of somebody about whom I know nothing is an interesting experience.
The stories within the book are very interesting, and delivered in an open, straightforward way. Slater's basic humanity shone through the whole way, and I blazed through the book in only two days. I ended up with a profound respect for Slater as a doctor and person.
However, I can't say the book was overwhelmingly good. The writing was fine (except for her irritating habit of using "try and" instead of "try to") but nothing special. The insight into her world was interesting, but not unique, nor uniquely presented.
All in all, an okay book. Should you read it? Sure, why not? Will it change your life? Probably not.
Reading the memoir of somebody about whom I know nothing is an interesting experience.
The stories within the book are very interesting, and delivered in an open, straightforward way. Slater's basic humanity shone through the whole way, and I blazed through the book in only two days. I ended up with a profound respect for Slater as a doctor and person.
However, I can't say the book was overwhelmingly good. The writing was fine (except for her irritating habit of using "try and" instead of "try to") but nothing special. The insight into her world was interesting, but not unique, nor uniquely presented.
All in all, an okay book. Should you read it? Sure, why not? Will it change your life? Probably not.
May 20, 2018
3.5 stars . Very interesting read in terms of the information about what goes on behind surgery doors but for me the writing itself lacked a consistent flow. Too much getting bogged down in detail and a bit much of same same after a while. An incredible woman indeed but this book really needed a good edit.
January 1, 2024
I could not put this book down. Kelly is truly a superwoman and her stories gave me chills of admiration throughout. Having a family member who is due to have a liver transplant at some point in Brisbane, this book felt deeply person and made me feel so much more at ease about the process and the skills and knowledge of the transplant teams that they will be under.
June 23, 2018
What a treat! An empowering memoir of a female surgeon who’s also a mom of four. I am in awe!
August 28, 2018
Has been in bookclub
March 7, 2021
I read this slowly, in between other books, over a few weeks. The stories are real - bringing tears and belly laughs. Well worth a read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2021
Loved this book! I’ve actually read it twice it’s that good.
December 9, 2021
This memoir is a quick read and a nice complement to some of the other books on this topic, which can be a bit dense.
August 26, 2022
Very inspiring. Beautifully written.
February 5, 2016
It is always interesting to read about people who grow up in the same town as you did, especially those who go on to do incredible things in their life. Brisbane surgeon Kellee Slater is one of those people.
Growing up in a very average family, Kellee did not dream of being a doctor from a young age. Initially planning to become a home economics teacher, it was only on the advice of her school guidance counselor that she even applied to study medicine at UQ - the day before her university preferences were due. From that moment on Kellee's destiny was to become first a doctor, then a surgeon and finally a highly specialised liver transplant surgeon.
While most of us cannot fathom spending six years at university, for Kellee this was just the beginning. Many more years of training followed, moving through the ranks of intern, registrar and finally surgeon. However Kellee was not content just being a general surgeon, instead she aspired to undertake the highly specialised area of liver transplants. The lifestyle of a surgeon is far from glamorous with extremely long hours and very little sleep being par for the course. Yet Kellee has done all this as well as having a happy marriage and four children!
What I enjoyed most about this book was the everyday language and lack of hard to understand medical terms. Kellee does indeed explain how to do a liver transplant in such a way that even those of us with no medical training can understand. Kellee's down to earth personality is evident in the way she tells her story and I felt I got a good sense of the person she is.
How To Do A Liver Transplant is an enjoyable and very interesting book that gives a massive insight into a very difficult and demanding job. It also celebrates that women really can do anything given the right opportunity and support.
Growing up in a very average family, Kellee did not dream of being a doctor from a young age. Initially planning to become a home economics teacher, it was only on the advice of her school guidance counselor that she even applied to study medicine at UQ - the day before her university preferences were due. From that moment on Kellee's destiny was to become first a doctor, then a surgeon and finally a highly specialised liver transplant surgeon.
While most of us cannot fathom spending six years at university, for Kellee this was just the beginning. Many more years of training followed, moving through the ranks of intern, registrar and finally surgeon. However Kellee was not content just being a general surgeon, instead she aspired to undertake the highly specialised area of liver transplants. The lifestyle of a surgeon is far from glamorous with extremely long hours and very little sleep being par for the course. Yet Kellee has done all this as well as having a happy marriage and four children!
What I enjoyed most about this book was the everyday language and lack of hard to understand medical terms. Kellee does indeed explain how to do a liver transplant in such a way that even those of us with no medical training can understand. Kellee's down to earth personality is evident in the way she tells her story and I felt I got a good sense of the person she is.
How To Do A Liver Transplant is an enjoyable and very interesting book that gives a massive insight into a very difficult and demanding job. It also celebrates that women really can do anything given the right opportunity and support.
June 7, 2014
It is always fascinating to read an autobiography of a person who does something extraordinary. It is even more so when you can easily relate to the author as they are a similar age and background to yourself.
Kellee Slater is not just an ordinary surgeon, she is a liver transplant surgeon - one of a very select group. As a female transplant surgeon she is even more rare. As you might imagine it has been a monumental journey for Kellee involving years and years of study and training (much of it unpaid). Probably most extraordinarily Kellee is not one of those doctors from a medical family who dreamed of becoming a surgeon from a young age. Rather it was a last minute decision to apply for medicine a day before her university preferences went in. In fact without the encouragement of a guidance counsellor (who suggested that Kellee's results might allow her to study something more challenging than the teaching degree she was considering), Kellee's life may have turned out very differently.
Even though Kellee's job is extremely demanding, she writes in a very down to earth manner and comes across in a humble and unassuming way. She even manages to explain just how a liver transplant is performed without getting too technical. This book was a fascinating insight into a side of medicine I knew very little about.
Although you might imagine a liver transplant surgeon would have little time in her life for anything else, Kellee has a long and happy marriage to her credit as well as four children. (Although I must admit I'm not quite sure just how she has managed to fit that in!)
How to Do A Liver Transplant is a fascinating read which kept my attention easily and taught me many things too.
Kellee Slater is not just an ordinary surgeon, she is a liver transplant surgeon - one of a very select group. As a female transplant surgeon she is even more rare. As you might imagine it has been a monumental journey for Kellee involving years and years of study and training (much of it unpaid). Probably most extraordinarily Kellee is not one of those doctors from a medical family who dreamed of becoming a surgeon from a young age. Rather it was a last minute decision to apply for medicine a day before her university preferences went in. In fact without the encouragement of a guidance counsellor (who suggested that Kellee's results might allow her to study something more challenging than the teaching degree she was considering), Kellee's life may have turned out very differently.
Even though Kellee's job is extremely demanding, she writes in a very down to earth manner and comes across in a humble and unassuming way. She even manages to explain just how a liver transplant is performed without getting too technical. This book was a fascinating insight into a side of medicine I knew very little about.
Although you might imagine a liver transplant surgeon would have little time in her life for anything else, Kellee has a long and happy marriage to her credit as well as four children. (Although I must admit I'm not quite sure just how she has managed to fit that in!)
How to Do A Liver Transplant is a fascinating read which kept my attention easily and taught me many things too.
August 27, 2013
I picked this book up on a whim after a customer recommended it. What an amazing story. This story tells the life of a doctor who trains to become a surgeon and eventually a liver transplant specialist. It is a very easy book to read and everything was explained in laymans terms. There were funny things in the book such as finding a butternut pumpkin up someone's behind - I mean how can this actually be real but alas it is! There were times that I cried along with the story with some of the heartbreaking stories that enfolded. Above all though I thought the message in the story was that life really can be too short and we need to enjoy every single minute we have as if it is our last. The gift of donor transplants was part of the story as well where generous people either alive or dead have given their organs to others so they can lead better lives. This doctor is an amazing woman who has four children herself yet gives so much of herself to others so she can help people have better lives. If you're not medically inclined this book might not be for you as there are scenes that deal with the experiences whilst on the operating table but the book was really more then that. I thought it was a truly amazing uplifting story. Thank you to Dr. Slater for sharing your life.
November 10, 2013
This was compelling reading. This woman has worked so incredibly hard to be top of her field and is really modest about it. Funny stories of doing a liver transplant while 9 months pregnant, and the ingenuity of her surgical team in hooking up some hoses that would blow air up her trouser legs to keep her cool. Aside from being gripped by her detailed descriptions of surgery and the various things that can go wrong with our liver, bowel and pancreas and what can be done to fix them, I was really touched by her obvious non-detached style: crying with her patients, sitting by a critically ill woman's bedside for days and weeks as more and more things went wrong post-surgery. I can imagine she's copped flak from colleagues over being too emotionally involved, but I'd want her first if my liver needed a work-over.
October 14, 2014
As a female surgeon, Dr. Kellee Slater works in one of the most demanding areas of medical operations, liver transplantation. In this inspiring, heartbreaking, and darkly humorous memoir, she opens up the fast-paced world of donor surgery. She takes readers with her as she flies across the Rocky Mountains in winter to collect transplant organs, rushes out of a department store change room to save the life of a toddler who is choking to death, and, horrifyingly, tells the wrong father in a hospital waiting room that there is no hope for his daughter. An ideal read for anyone with an interest in modern medicine, this inspirational memoir portrays both the joyous and difficult experiences of one of the most demanding jobs in the world
November 15, 2014
Loved this book. I learnt a lot about livers, surgery, donors, trauma and almost wish to have a go at perfroming the surgery myself, but the sleeplessness puts me off. At times I thought the author was 'blowing her own trumpet' but why not. She is successful in career, family and choices and has made an amazing impact on many lives. Throughout a lot of the book, I kept thinking Kellee is amazing and Andrew is a Saint! I found a radio interview of the author on the internet and my views have not waivered ... what an amazing lady.
I am reading Game of Thrones at the same time and must admit there are many times when I can't telll one form the other ... what with all the blood and gore.
I am reading Game of Thrones at the same time and must admit there are many times when I can't telll one form the other ... what with all the blood and gore.
July 8, 2014
An interesting foray through the world of a medical student through to her extraordinary life as a wife, mother and transplant surgeon. The book was easy to read and the author handles difficult subjects with a light touch.
April 19, 2014
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12415329
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12415329
March 15, 2014
Fantastic insight into the world of a transplant surgeon. Slater manages to tell heart breaking stories of life and death, mixing in a little humour along the way! Thoroughly enjoyable
September 12, 2016
Great read, made me laugh, made me cry, made me think. Interesting.
June 24, 2014
I really enjoyed this book, it's not something I would usually read but I found it really interesting. Highly recommend.
March 21, 2015
Fascinating read, a real page turner.
April 13, 2015
Loved this book. I actually found it inspiring and I couldn't wait to get back to my studies!
May 16, 2015
Good read, she told a good account of her journey and kept it interesting. Generals Surgery will definitely be on my list of maybes.
May 21, 2016
Interesting read
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews