Friday, July 11, 2008, our world lost a true icon in the world of medicine and more important a true Humanitarian.
Lake Charles Native Son Michael DeBakey passed from our world. I wish I could take credit for the coining of the phrase “King of Hearts”, but I must report that I read this in the very first of many multiple full page tributes printed in the Lake Charles American Press.
These pages allowed those whose lives he had touched to express their gratitude and love. I could fill many blog post if I were to attempt to convey all the reports of generosity, humor, kindness, genius, and sheer exceptional energy of this man.
One story that stood out in my memory was retold by a gentleman on behalf of his Father who had since passed. Dr. DeBakey had completed surgery on his Father and the bills that ensued reached a point the man could not repay without refinancing his home. Dr DeBakey found out about this, called the man, and said “No man would jeopardize his family’s home to pay him. His bill was paid as of that day.” There were so many stories similar to this story that it became evident that this man truly lived to improve the life of others.
He tackled every day in a run to see how many people he could help that day. What a wonderful world this would be if we all tried to do the same. We can’t all be doctors, King of Hearts, but we each have our talents that could help our neighbors.
What if we tackled life like DeBakey; each day trying to help as many of our neighbors as we know and introducing ourselves to those we don’t know.
There were also stories related by those who had worked with or under DeBakey over the years. All held the man in awe with total respect for his ability and drive.
DeBakey was a perfectionist, intolerant of incompetence, sloppy thinking, and laziness. A DeBakey quote taken from the New York Times goes as follows: “If you were on the operating table would you want a perfectionist or somebody who cared little for details?”
Some of his residents reported difficulty keeping up with him, even in his progressing years. It seems that the patient may have had the better end of the deal at times. After all, it was always for the patient that everyone was in the room or the knowledge that would be attained for the next patient.
Lake Charles City Council passed a resolution on August 20, 2008 to change the name of South Ryan Street to Dr. Michael DeBakey Drive. This street runs through one of the densest medical areas in our city.
I would like to think this would bring a smile to his face. All who knew him knew he still loved his Cajun roots and food. I would like to think he would be pleased to know that in our hearts he will always be the King of Hearts.
Michael Ellis DeBakey died Friday, July 11th of natural causes. One of the 20th century's great pioneers of cardiovascular surgery.
Amon a host of other things, DeBakey was:
-Chancellor emeritus of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston
-Director of The Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center
-Senior attending surgeon of The Methodist Hospital in Houston
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