In 1928, neurosurgeon Wilder Penfield faced great difficulties while operating on his sister for her debilitating seizures. The field of neurosurgery was still nascent, fraught with risks and uncertainties. Operating in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Penfield and his protégé William Cone aimed to address a suspected tumor in his sister's brain. Despite the emotional weight of performing surgery on family, Penfield used innovative methods, such as keeping her awake during surgery, reflecting on the blend of personal stakes and the pioneering spirit of early neurosurgery.
Penfield’s determination to help his sister through neurosurgery marks a pivotal moment in medical history where the risks of the trade intersected with the personal life of a surgeon.
As Penfield stood in the operating room, he faced not only the technical challenges of surgery but also the emotional weight of operating on his own sister.
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