“Heart of the Matter” by Joyce Hynes is an autobiography of a journey that began at age nine when she underwent her first open-heart surgery in 1961 at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Across three surgeries, repeated complications, and long hospital stays, Hynes documents a life marked by uncertainty sustained by faith, resilience, and optimism. “Heart of the Matter came as I found a small notebook after my mom passed. It was actually the 3 months of intense notes when I was in hospital at John Hopkins in 1961 for my first open heart surgery. And so that’s how Heart of the Matter came to be,” Joyce shared.