From WHYY in Philadelphia, I'm Terry Gross with Fresh Air Weekend.

Today Dr. J. Wellens tells us what it's like to operate on the brains and nervous systems

of children.

In a new memoir, he describes his work as a pediatric neurosurgeon using advances in

modern medicine to do amazing things like repairing the spine of a tiny fetus in utero,

and having hard conversations with parents when their child has a life-threatening illness

or injury.

Also we hear from Chris Blackwell, the founder of Island Records, which recorded Bob Marley

and the Whalers, including the album Catch a Fire, which helped introduce reggae to the

US.

Blackwell grew up in Jamaica, and film critic Justin Chang reviews a science fiction film set

during a pandemic of sudden memory loss.

Dave Davies has our first interview.

Here's Dave to introduce it.

For guest today, Jay Wellens is used to operating on tiny brains.

Not just brains, but all parts of kids' central nervous systems, including the spine of a

fetus, he described as being the size of three grains of rice stacked together.

As a pediatric neurosurgeon, Wellens uses amazing advances in medicine to heal and repair

children suffering from illnesses and injuries, some caused by car accidents, sports collisions,

and increasingly gunshot wounds.

But in practically every case, he's also dealing with parents confronting their worst fear,

the prospect of losing a child.

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