Heart surgeon DeBakey is remembered as pioneer
Michael DeBakey, the pioneering US heart surgeon who died last week, aged 99, will be remembered not only for his ground-breaking surgical work but also for numerous inventions that made a positive impact on the world.
He is said to have performed more than 60,000 heart surgeries during his 70-year career, including on famous names such as late American presidents John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon, the last Shah of Iran and King Hussein of Jordan.
He also invented mobile army surgical hospital (MASH) units and performed a series of surgical firsts -- including the some of the first heart transplants, removal of artery blockages and bypass operations.
DeBakey died of natural causes late Friday, according to the DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center at Methodist Hospital in Houston.
as someone who has had family members have heart surgeries, i found this to be very saddening. the world really suffered a loss by a man who was truly someone who made a positive difference in the world. Dr. DeBakey, you will be missed but not forgotten.