#WhatPatientsReadAfterHeartSurgery

Luc Haenen, born in Antwerp in 1959. He currently lives near Antwerp.

From 1998 till December 2024, he was a cardiac surgeon at the Imelda Hospital in Bonheiden, Belgium. Interested in both literature and contemporary art and fascinated by what patients read while recovering in the hospital.

This publication is dedicated to all patients who gave me their confidence in taking care of their most precious condition, health. I am grateful to all my colleagues, the healthcare staff, and everyone involved in the process of trying to improve the lives of patients at the Hartcentrum Bonheiden-Lier and my colleagues of AZ Sint-Maarten (Mechelen), and the GPs and family doctors I had the privilege to collaborate with.

So often I had passionate, marvellous, fascinating and in-depth conversations on patients’ books, waiting and resting on their hospital room’s night table. These books were a source of comfort, joy, and connection between me and the patients.

On page three of #whatpatientsreadafterheartsurgery we have placed an image of a person lying down, reading a book, with their right hand focused on the page.

I don’t recall the name of the artist (not even via Google Lens). I still remember the setting, the man in the hospital room, sharing his passion for reading. During my postoperative rounds, I spent time sitting next to the patient’s bed, discussing the dedicated act of reading. At his discharge, he offered me this small bronze figure, a very emotional way to symbolise what reading is all about.

Photographs - Luc Haenen Text - Luc Haenen Graphic Design - David Boon Publisher - Bruno Devos at HOPPER&FUCHS Printing - Zwartopwit (BE) ISBN - 9789464002720 First edition, 500 copies - September 2025

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