Heart Surgeon Saved by Operation He Developed(Dr. Michael DeBakey -- 97 yrs old)

[RedEarth]

Dec. 26, 2006— - Dr. Michael DeBakey says he was reluctant to undergo the heart operation he pioneered because, at his age, he feared it might leave him mentally or physically crippled, if he survived it.

"I'd rather die," he told The New York Times in a rare interview for its Monday editions.

Nearly a year later, DeBakey, 98, is the oldest survivor of the operation he developed to repair a damaged aorta, the main artery from the heart. He is back to working nearly full days and walks increasingly longer distances, but he mainly gets around with a motorized scooter.

"It is a miracle," DeBakey said. "I really should not be here."

DeBakey is considered the father of modern cardiovascular surgery, pioneering now common procedures such as bypass surgery and inventing a host of devices to help heart patients. He talked with the Times about his operation and recovery.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/print?id=2751603

[Lucky Luciano]

1. HAH! I love stuff like this! nt

[hlthe2b]

2. Nice irony...

So rarely are they so...:toast: to Dr. Debakey

[Lurking Dem]

3. I have a funny story about this

(family acquaintance).

When they first decided to do the surgery they called in the team anesthesiologist. He flat out refused to do it. When they asked "why?" he replied, "I do NOT want to be known as the 'guy who killed DeBakey!'"

They had to get someone else.

[Ramsey]

4. DeBakey was interviewed on NPR not too long ago and the man

is amazing;  he still had a mind like a steel trap...so
brilliant in all he said and so focused on helping mankind.  I
think he was 96 at the time.