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Michael DeBakey, Consummate Medical Geek, Dead At 99
NIckGorton writes "Dr. Michael DeBakey, the father of modern heart surgery, died this week at age 99. He was integral to the development of pretty much everything in modern cardiovascular surgery: bypass (heart-lung machines that made open-heart surgery possible for the first time), coronary artery bypass surgery (he did the first one ever), carotid endarterectomey (again he performed the first one), the development of Dacron graft blood vessels, and the development of MASH units. He was a consummate geek and numerous surgical instruments bear his name. He was also the first surgeon to videotape surgeries — in the 1960s. He was considered by the NEJM to be the single greatest surgeon alive until two days ago. In his career he performed over 50,000 heart surgeries and practiced medicine (though not surgery) until the day he died. In 2005 he underwent the Debakey procedure, which he pioneered, to treat the aortic dissection he suffered."
Little over a year ago I was almost run over by a Porsche in the Texas Medical Center that looked like it was being driven by the grim specter of geath. Turns out it was DeBakey. I was later told by a friend at Baylor College of Medicine that DeBakey was still practicing when he felt like it! What a stud. 97 years old (at the time), still practicing medicine, and still spry enough to terrorize rogue jay-walkers in his 911. Via con dios, old man.
I am sure that many identify with what you are saying.
I though tend to detach from what seems to be the unfairness of life. Why does someone get 99 years and another only 18 years... the truth is that there is no true understanding.
The Dalai Lama said (paraphrased)
My friends will pass away
My enemies will pass away
My happiness and dreams will pass away
My sorrows and failures will pass away
I, and the reflection of that who I am, too will pass away
And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make
Clearly you didn't read enough of the article.
When he died, his hair was purple and he was wearing a shirt that said "+1 Shirt".
If you can read this, I forgot to post anonymously.
Because, "anime-obsessed, Monty Python-incessantly-quoting dweebs" isn't the only definition of "geek", though it is a derogatory one.
"Geek", as I understand the term, usually refers to someone who excels at, is fascinated by, and focuses on one particular thing, often though not always of a scientific or technical nature.
However, in the case of the late, esteemed Michael DeBakey, perhaps "hacker" might be the more appropriate term, given the hands-on nature of his work - a hacker of the human body, in the best, most respectful sense of the term.
Because the poor are a necessary drag to keep the human race from advancing too far too fast.
At least that's the best I can come up with. Maybe the parent is a believer in the myth of the noble poor or something.
In 1970, I had open heart surgery to repair an aortic ventricular aneurysm. I was 7 years old. I was on a heart-lung machine for the surgery, and my surgeon, Jay Ankeney, was undoubtable a denizen or Dr. DeBakey. At the time, open heart surgery was rare and extremely risky, and nearly unheard of on a child. A few years ago, I had the chance to meet one of the leading cardiac surgeons in Chicago, and told him about my experience. When he found out a surgeon had done open heart on a 7 year old in 1970 he exclaimed "that guy must have had steel balls to try and pull that off." DeBakey had a pair of big brass ones - EVERY time he cut into a patient, that patient was in jeopardy of dying soon, and dying from the procedure - a rock and a hard place. And he did it over and over. While 50,000 people owe him a direct debt, we all owe him an enormous one. I for one will recall his blessings.
I grew up in the town where his parents (the Dabaghi's which was later anglicised to DeBakey) came from in South Lebanon.
When I was still in that town, over 30 years ago he was a very famous man in that (his family is a big part of town as well) and in the sixties when he visited his relatives there was accorded great honours.
Anyway, I reckon his fame and his ability to achieve great things were great conributing factors that lead many people in that town to also emigrate to US and also achieve many great things as US citizens.
It shows that migrants are able to contribute considerably t their adoptive society than most people fear.