Something the Lord Made

The story spans from the 1930s during the Great Depression to the mid-1970s, tracking decades of change. It follows the move from Nashville to Johns Hopkins in the 1940s and through the subsequent decades of medical advancement. The period is marked by segregation in medical settings and a groundbreaking collaboration that reshaped the field.

Depression-era Nashville provides the opening setting, illustrating the era's hardship. The action later moves to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, a leading medical center of the time. The two settings reflect the era’s social divisions and the hospital’s role in pioneering heart surgery.

🚪 Racial Barriers

The narrative foregrounds segregation in which Black staff are limited to janitorial roles and face limited access to recognition. It highlights moments, such as exclusion from praise at formal events, that underscore the ethical costs of systemic discrimination. The film uses these experiences to explore the tension between medical progress and social injustice.

🧪 Medical Innovation

Thomas's dexterity and the team’s willingness to experiment propel the research from dog models toward human treatment. The Blue Baby project illustrates iterative refinements and the careful balance between risk and potential life-saving outcomes. The story emphasizes how patient survival hinges on step-by-step scientific progress.

🤝 Collaboration

Central to the film is the partnership between Blalock and Thomas, combining surgical prowess with technical mastery. Their collaboration faces institutional obstacles, yet mutual trust and persistent dialogue drive breakthrough moments. The dynamic shows how diverse expertise can converge to redefine a field.

🏅 Legacy

The work is framed as the birth of modern cardiac surgery, with long-term impact defined by widespread adoption and ongoing innovation. The narrative notes the eventual recognition of Thomas's contributions and the field’s growth, highlighting the enduring significance of their partnership. It closes with the idea that their collaboration reshaped medicine for generations.