The Sky Was Falling: A Young Surgeon’s Story of Bravery, Survival, and Hope

Griggs has been on the frontlines of the COVID pandemic as a pediatric surgery fellow in Manhattan; her experiences shaped her well-written debut. Readers may remember her March 2020 New York Times op-ed about her fears and frustrations over the worsening situation in hospitals. Since then, connecting with the public about the pandemic, to increase awareness about the obstacles medical personnel encounter when trying to acquire personal protective equipment and other necessary supplies, has become one of Griggs’s missions. In her book, she chronicles the physical and mental toll of serving on the frontlines, performing surgeries on children affected by the virus, and worrying about bringing it home to her own children. While Griggs’s story may be all too familiar to other medical professionals, her memoir provides a remarkable insider’s view of her experiences as they unfolded, along with details about her previous work. Griggs, who studies public health, proposes new policies in the event of a new pandemic.