Dr. Michael E. DeBakey, the medical pioneer who was the driving force in developing the field of cardiac surgery, operating on more than 65,000 patients and developing medical technology that saved millions more, died Friday. He was 99.
Dr. DeBakey died of natural causes at the Methodist Hospital in Houston, according to a statement from the Baylor College of Medicine and the Methodist Hospital.
In his highly influential career, Dr. DeBakey performed the first coronary artery bypass surgery and the first carotid endarterectomy to prevent strokes. He developed the pump that is the key component of the heart-and-lung machines that are used routinely on patients during heart surgery, and he developed an artificial heart that keeps patients alive while they wait for their own heart to improve.
What an amazing man and physician Michael DeBakey was at a great cost – his personal dedication and committment, his investment of energy and time and concern for each patient. Yet he had the humility, reverence and awe to give the glory to God for the creation and design of the human heart.
And, what a God and Savior…for His is the eternally consequential heart surgery no human hand can perform, that changes and heals the spiritual heart achieved through a greater cost to himself.
Dr. DeBakey’s achievements are exceeded only by God’s own. Ezekiel 36:26:
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”
Very nice tribute, GA/FL. When I was a young boy my heros were Dr. DeBakey and Denton Cooley, a fellow surgeon across town. It’s too bad journalists don’t give doctors more attention these days…
99 years – an amazing life.