Dr. Michael DeBakey

The death of Dr. Michael DeBakey has headlined the Houston news lately. I always knew he was a Houston icon, but his passing brought two thoughts to mind. First, what makes a person great? Second, did Dr. Debakey--in his greatness--ever have time to just live?I made a great fish curry dinner the other night. Does that make me great? It certainly doesn't measure up to pioneering the field of cardiology nor inventing life-saving devices. He even pioneered the very procedure that later saved his own life. Great things are going on in the world every moment of every day. We have great people all over our country (some who truly are great, and some who may think themselves great). In August, children all over the country will file into their classrooms. Among those children will be the "greats" of the future. They will invent and transform things that we have no concept of at the present time. What frontiers are yet to be discovered? Do my own children behold greatness?--well, most certainly they do...just ask me...I'll tell you!Did Dr. Debakey ever sit, meditate, and savor a cup of coffee? Or did he eat, drink, and breath cardiology? They say that even in his later years, he continued to push the envelope in advancing his field. Could he handle small talk at a dinner party? What did people talk to him about? Did he ever fuss about dirty dishes around his house? I sound like a nosy voyeur, but after hearing about all of his professional greatness, I wonder what he was like as a man. His photographs in and out of surgical attire make him look like a stern and unapproachable man. At one time, he was someone's little boy. At one time, he was learning to ride a bicycle. At one time, he fell in love--I am sure, well, I hope he did. And one morning or evening, or perhaps in the shower one day, he sparked an idea that gave birth to his greatness as a heart surgeon and innovator. I wonder if he knew what an impact he would make on the world.