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Heartbeat: An American Cardiologist in Kenya
442 pages, Hardcover
Published October 25, 2023
14 people want to read
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August 26, 2024
"Heartbeat" is a captivating memoir that chronicles the extraordinary life and career of Dr. ("Daktari") David Silverstein, an American cardiologist who dedicated over 50 years to practicing medicine in Kenya. The book, co-authored with Mary Anne Fitzgerald, a Kenya-based news correspondent, offers a unique perspective on Kenya's post-colonial development, interwoven with the personal journey of a physician who became deeply involved with the country's leadership.
Silverstein's role as personal physician to former President Daniel Arap Moi provides a privileged glimpse into significant events in recent Kenyan history. His accounts of treating high-profile patients, including Charles Njonjo, Nelson Mandela, and Diana Delamere, are interspersed with harrowing tales of confronting rare diseases such as the Marburg virus and plague.
Beyond the medical narrative, "Heartbeat" is a story of cultural adaptation, personal growth, and the power of human connection. Silverstein's friendship with President Moi led to unexpected developments, including fostering stronger ties between Kenya and Israel. The memoir candidly addresses sensitive topics like the challenges of being a white Jewish Daktari in a predominantly black Christian country, navigating complex cultural dynamics, and handling delicate political situations. It also covers his involvement in treating the wounded from the raid on Entebbe in 1976 and the bombing of the US Embassy in Nairobi in 1998. It strikes a good balance between personal anecdotes, medical challenges, and broader reflections on Kenya's evolution over the past half-century. Some may want to skip over the detailed notes from Daktari’s medical practice. Still, they provide important evidence of an unabashed workaholic who also built strong bonds with the country’s elite by being the best he could be at his profession while staying out of political debates well beyond his professional and cultural expertise.
The discussion of the complicated relationship between President Moi and Charles Njonjo is particularly fascinating. Silverstein, as a physician to both men, provides unique insights into their dynamic, including international travel with the President. The relationship came close to breaking point after the 1982 coup, which some believed Njonjo was behind. Njonjo strongly denied it but resigned from all his government positions while an independent tribunal considered the evidence. At the end, only minor charges were sustained, and even those were pardoned by Moi. Still, there was lingering antipathy between them until they were both invited and came to Daktari’s 50th birthday party. According to the book, they sat together holding hands, a tradition among Kenyan chiefs. They both also developed a taste for sweet Jewish wine served at the party, something they reportedly enjoyed together for the rest of their lives: Moi until 95 (Daktari gave a eulogy at his funeral), and Njonjo to 101 before the two founding fathers passed away.
The book also offers glimpses into Silverstein's personal life, including his two marriages and his experience of fathering two Kenyan sons born out of wedlock. He candidly addresses the complexities of his first marriage, the reasons for keeping his second family out of the public eye, and his second marriage to Channa, which is still going strong today.
Silverstein's loyalty to his prominent patients/friends, such as Moi and Njonjo, is evident throughout the book. He raises thought-provoking questions about the disparity in wealth in post-independence Kenya, noting the lavish lifestyles of some while most struggle to make ends meet. He also observes the contradictions of his elite patient's lives, highlighting the expensive suits they wear while drawing government salaries. However, he maintains their trust by focusing his analysis on medical science and leaving political criticism to others.
Within these limits, Silverstein provides valuable insights into the development of medical practices in Kenya, shedding light on the country's political landscape and the enduring power of human connections across cultural divides. "Heartbeat" is highly recommended for those interested in medicine, African history, or simply inspiring tales of lives well-lived in service to others.
Silverstein's role as personal physician to former President Daniel Arap Moi provides a privileged glimpse into significant events in recent Kenyan history. His accounts of treating high-profile patients, including Charles Njonjo, Nelson Mandela, and Diana Delamere, are interspersed with harrowing tales of confronting rare diseases such as the Marburg virus and plague.
Beyond the medical narrative, "Heartbeat" is a story of cultural adaptation, personal growth, and the power of human connection. Silverstein's friendship with President Moi led to unexpected developments, including fostering stronger ties between Kenya and Israel. The memoir candidly addresses sensitive topics like the challenges of being a white Jewish Daktari in a predominantly black Christian country, navigating complex cultural dynamics, and handling delicate political situations. It also covers his involvement in treating the wounded from the raid on Entebbe in 1976 and the bombing of the US Embassy in Nairobi in 1998. It strikes a good balance between personal anecdotes, medical challenges, and broader reflections on Kenya's evolution over the past half-century. Some may want to skip over the detailed notes from Daktari’s medical practice. Still, they provide important evidence of an unabashed workaholic who also built strong bonds with the country’s elite by being the best he could be at his profession while staying out of political debates well beyond his professional and cultural expertise.
The discussion of the complicated relationship between President Moi and Charles Njonjo is particularly fascinating. Silverstein, as a physician to both men, provides unique insights into their dynamic, including international travel with the President. The relationship came close to breaking point after the 1982 coup, which some believed Njonjo was behind. Njonjo strongly denied it but resigned from all his government positions while an independent tribunal considered the evidence. At the end, only minor charges were sustained, and even those were pardoned by Moi. Still, there was lingering antipathy between them until they were both invited and came to Daktari’s 50th birthday party. According to the book, they sat together holding hands, a tradition among Kenyan chiefs. They both also developed a taste for sweet Jewish wine served at the party, something they reportedly enjoyed together for the rest of their lives: Moi until 95 (Daktari gave a eulogy at his funeral), and Njonjo to 101 before the two founding fathers passed away.
The book also offers glimpses into Silverstein's personal life, including his two marriages and his experience of fathering two Kenyan sons born out of wedlock. He candidly addresses the complexities of his first marriage, the reasons for keeping his second family out of the public eye, and his second marriage to Channa, which is still going strong today.
Silverstein's loyalty to his prominent patients/friends, such as Moi and Njonjo, is evident throughout the book. He raises thought-provoking questions about the disparity in wealth in post-independence Kenya, noting the lavish lifestyles of some while most struggle to make ends meet. He also observes the contradictions of his elite patient's lives, highlighting the expensive suits they wear while drawing government salaries. However, he maintains their trust by focusing his analysis on medical science and leaving political criticism to others.
Within these limits, Silverstein provides valuable insights into the development of medical practices in Kenya, shedding light on the country's political landscape and the enduring power of human connections across cultural divides. "Heartbeat" is highly recommended for those interested in medicine, African history, or simply inspiring tales of lives well-lived in service to others.
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