"She's a miracle," [Magdi Yacoub] said, holding [Alys Turner]'s hands. "This is what makes it worthwhile."

"I want to cry," Alys said. "I can't put into words how much he's affected my life."

That's why Yacoub had been working on his method to repair the arteries altogether and eliminate the possibility that Alys might one day need heart surgery in her teens. He'd performed the operation on two other patients, and Alys's parents agreed it was the best option for their daughter.