An Open Heart

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MyauntEdithwasawidowof50,workingasasecretary,whendoctorsdiscoveredwhatwasthenthoughttobeaveryseriousheartailment.

AuntEdithdoesn’taeptdefeateasily.Shebeganstudyingmedicalreportsinthelibraryandfoundanarticleinamagazineaboutawell-knownheartsurgeon,Dr.MichaelDeBakey,ofHouston,Texas.HEhadsavedthelifeofsomeonewiththesameailment.ThearticlesaidDr.DeBakey’sfeeswereveryhigh;AuntEdithcouldn’tpossiblypaythem.Butcouldhetellherofsomeonewhosefeeshecouldpay?

SoAuntEdithwrotetohim.Shesimplylistedherreasonsforwantinglive:herthreechildren,whowouldbeontheirowninthreeorfourmoreyears,herlittle-girldreamoftravelingandseeingtheworld.Therewasn’tawordofself-pity---onlywarmthandhumorandthejoyofliving.Shemailedtheletter,notreallyexpectingananswer.

Afewdayslater,mydoorbellrang.AuntEdithdidn’twaittoein;shestoodinthehallandreadaloud:“Yourbeautifullettermovedmeverydeeply.IfyoucanetoHouston,therewillbenochargeforeitherthehospitalortheoperation.Signed—MichaelDeBakey.”

Thatwassevenyearsago.Sincethen,AuntEdithhasbeenaroundtheworld.Herthreechildrenarehappilymarried.Forherage,sheisoneoftheyoungest,mostalivepeopleIknow----allbecauseofanopenheartsurgeonwhoknewhowtohonorofhisprofession,andhowtoopenhisownheart.