Nine lucky students at Ringgold, myself included, got the chance to witness an open heart surgery at Allegheny General Hospital this spring.  Mr. Barry Harris, the AP Biology teacher here at Ringgold, invited his classes to view the surgery as an extra activity.  On Monday, March 16th, we boarded an early-morning bus to Pittsburgh to witness a life being saved in one of the surgical galleries.  When we arrived, we were all nervous and a bit squeamish about what we would see.   By the time the director of the education program at the hospital brought us to the gallery, we were quite excited.  “I was flipping out,” says Devin Bartolotta, who cringes at the sight of blood.  “It was educational, but it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” says Bartolotta.  According to the guide on our tour, we did not see the scheduled valve replacement that was planned, but a burst aorta repair and a fight for life.  “There was blood everywhere…it was hard to believe that something like this could happen to your body,” Bartolotta exclaimed.  It was certainly a sight to behold…and a wake-up call.  Even though the burst aorta was a rare case, heart health definitely became a priority to the students who viewed the surgery.  The educational programs in hospitals are geared to generate the interest of high school students and inform them of careers in medicine.  They also provide students with important views on health and safety.  Thanks to Mr. Harris and the educational program at Allegheny General, the students who viewed the surgery witnessed a unique experience that they were fortunate to see.