Heart lessons

Braz J Cardiovasc Surg | Rev Bras Cir Cardiovasc he last 12 months have been of deep losses for the Brazilian cardiovascular surgery. Distinguished and competent professionals, fundamental to the consolidation and advancement of the specialty in our country have left us, after serving brilliantly their career in this world. On July 10, 2014, Dr. Geraldo Verginelli died. On November 12, 2014, Dr. Raul Correia Rabelo left our living and just two days later, we had the death of Dr. Adib Domingos Jatene. In 2015, we had three more losses: on February 21, Dr. Edgar San Juan died (see Memorial, written by Dr. Vera Piccardi on page 395), on May 26, Dr. Marcos Vinicius Ferraz Arruda has lost the battle to cancer, the same occurred on the 5th of July with Dr. João Alberto Roso. But we can not just lament these happenings. We must look into the achievements of these cardiac surgeons, draw lessons from their teachings and apply them in our day-to-day, not only in the professional field, but also in personal life. Thanks to the dedication of the pioneers in times when our specialty still crawled, without stopping, let alone giving up in the face of obstacles, making their work and creativity and managing to overcome difficulties, it was possible to put the Brazilian cardiac surgery in the prominent place it occupies today in the world. Their example will be forever and the best way to honor them is with great dedication, whether at work, whether in research, so that the problems we face today with the crisis befalling the country and affects everyone, decreasing financial resources, do not take the courage nor the will to fulfill our role as best as possible. And these teachers gave us real lessons of the heart that we must always have them saved, especially in times where the situation appears adverse. Dr. Adib said: “I am against this story to tell: I don’t do because they don’t give me conditions. If you are able to do you create the conditions.” We can learn from these true heart lessons! Brazilian Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery (BJCVS) emerged from this dream, and if today is an internationally recognized journal, it owes much to the pioneers. In 2016, we will complete 30 years of uninterrupted movement and we intend to celebrate this important date with a series of events Editorial