While addressing the Republican National Convention on Aug. 26, 2020, a nun in full habit raised a rosary and proclaimed: “I am not just pro-life, I am pro-eternal life.” With that, Col. Sister Deirdre (Dede) Byrne, MD was thrust into the national spotlight.
Sister Dede Byrne at the 2020 Republican National Convention. Sophia Institute Press
As a staunch pro-life advocate, Sister Dede is used to fighting for the truth and for what’s good. “Sister, Soldier, Surgeon” by Dr. Leisa Marie Carzon delves into the life’s work of “the nun with a gun,” the people who shaped her, and her decisions along the way.
A Strong Foundation
The first part of the book deals with family influences and childhood anecdotes. Born on Oct. 1, 1956, Byrne’s the fifth of eight children in a traditional Irish American family. Her father was an accomplished surgeon and served in the Air Force Medical Corps. Her mother stayed at home with the children and did volunteer work while caring for her brood.As part of their Catholic upbringing, daily Mass was an important part of their routine. Byrne, no doubt, was also influenced by trailblazers in her family. There’s her uncle—a priest, who, through his radio show, spoke up against a cardinal’s idea of bringing in seminarians to be strikebreakers during the 1949 Cavalry Cemetery strike. An aunt was a schoolteacher who worked with children with Down syndrome, and another served as ambassador to Norway and the former Czechoslovakia. These were the familial role models Byrne and her siblings were surrounded with.
Growing up, she was known for her generous heart. She was the one who brought in the strays—both the four-footed and the two-legged kind. It wasn’t unusual for the Byrne family to see new faces at the dinner table, as they learned to accommodate Dede’s acts of charity.
The examples set by family members, the spiritual formation she received from her parents, and the strength of her character all became building blocks to form who she is today.
‘Scrubs, Camouflage, or Habit?’
As Byrne embarked on a military career to help pay for her medical studies, her personal goal of wanting to provide free medical care for all remained at the forefront. She jumped at a chance to be deployed to the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt when she heard that it came with training on tropical diseases—a topic which she felt would help her in her future missionary work.As she continued to grow in her medical knowledge, she was also quick to impart her theological wisdom on those around her—colleagues, patients, and even Uber drivers. She never hesitated to take advantage of opportunities to impart uplifting words, profess the love of God, or hold someone’s hand for emotional support. One Muslim man in Sudan, just before getting sedated for his surgery, asked Byrne, “Doctor, will you please pray for me?” In overcoming social, cultural, and religious norms, she was able to reach many people through her work.
Sister Dede in her scrubs while in Sudan, prior to her taking her vows. Sophia Institute Press
Back in the United States, she finally decided on the right fit for combining her medical work with her pastoral work. On Sept. 15, 2004, Byrne took her vows with the Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. She runs a free medical clinic for the less privileged in the nation’s capital and in other countries.
Speaking for Those Who Cannot Speak
It’s no surprise that abortion was one of the main issues that Sister Dede had the scientific and moral ground to speak on. As a physician, she believes that life begins at conception—which she brings up when speaking on the topic. As a nun, she lent her presence and voice at various gatherings, including the Republican National Convention and at the 2024 National Prayer Breakfast in Washington. At the latter, she spoke on behalf of pro-lifers and those who had been put in jail for their beliefs.Putting her words into practice, she stood and prayed outside abortion clinics and gave out information for abortion pill reversal procedures, which she is qualified to perform herself. Oral progesterone ingested within 72 hours after a woman first takes the RU-486 abortion pill increases the chances that the abortion may be reversed. She has saved many babies’ lives with this prescription.
An Inspiring Read
There’s much more of Sister Dede’s acts of mercy and charity that fill the pages of this book. As a surgeon, not only did she serve in the horror of war-torn areas, but she’s also had to fight her own battles on the home front. She nearly lost her medical license after ignoring vaccine mandates for health professionals during the COVID-19 period.The witty subheadings in each chapter, such as “Spina Bifida Repair for Dummies,” “Head-Butted by an Israeli Soldier,” and “Have Altar, Will Travel,” are but some examples of the author’s (and Sister’s) tongue-in-cheek humor.
The middle section of the book allows readers to “shadow” Sister Dede, since Carzon provides an itinerary of what a typical day in a jam-packed week looks like for the busy nun.
The final part of the book exhorts readers to “live their faith in the public square.” As Sister Dede travels from one place to another—either on her medical missions or her pilgrimages—she never hesitates to evangelize and talk about her faith.
A story about a nun isn’t complete without a Bible verse thrown in, and this one encapsulates her life’s work well: “Love compels us to ‘go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation’ (Mark 16:15).” This is why Sister Dede continues to share the truth on so many issues. “I’m not saying these things because I am judging them,” she explained. “I’m saying them because I love them.”
“Sister, Soldier, Surgeon” is filled with anecdotes and “chicken soup for the soul”-type stories that warm the heart. It will remind readers that there are good people out there doing brave things. Sister Dede always points the way to God for all the souls she encounters. With everything she has accomplished—sister, soldier, and surgeon—she also remains a humble servant of God.
‘Sister, Soldier, Surgeon: The Life and Courage of Sister Dierdre Byrne, M.D.’
By Dr. Leisa Marie Carzon
Sophia Institute Press, Nov. 3, 2024
Paperback: 288 pages
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