The picture shows Zbigniew Religa after a 23-hour heart transplant operation, Poland, 1987.

Zbigniew Religa was a very good cardiac surgeon, this was confirmed not only by his patients, but also by his colleagues, calling him a “doctor from God.”

In 1987, he had a patient who needed a heart transplant.

At that time in Poland no one made such operations, no one except Zbigniew. The patient’s condition was hopeless and his chances were not highly estimated. But Dr. Religa did not refuse him and performed the most difficult operation, which lasted 23 hours. And when the operation was finished he for a long time followed the monitor and the work of vital organs.

The doctor’s young assistant slept in a corner on the floor. The doctor let the rest of the brigade go to rest. But the doctor himself continued to sit. He sat until he was completely convinced that the new heart was working as it should.

The doctor passed away 22 years after this photo was taken, in 2009. His patient outlived his savior.

The photo became famous – and entered the TOP-100 best photographs of the world.