In 1967 I was 11 years old. This was the year that the first human heart transplant was successfully completed in Cape town, South Africa by Dr. Christian
Barnard. The announcement was etched in my memory as this event captivated the evening news, newspaper headlines and the cover of Time
magazine. This medical landmark was my introduction to medicine and the cardiovascular system. I visited the public library and read every book I could
find on the heart, lungs and blood vessels.
What closely followed was the development of the artificial heart by the world-famous surgeon, Dr. Michael DeBakey in Houston, Texas. Dr. DeBakey
appeared larger than life in the news. In seventh grade science class, we studied a cow’s heart, lungs and blood vessels. I was quite impressed, at the age
of 13 years, when my grandfather traveled to Texas in order to undergo a vascular bypass operation by Dr.DeBakey himself. The operation saved my
grandfather’s leg and added many years to his life.