An Open Heart

AnOpenHeartMyauntEdithwasawidowof50,workingasasecretary,whendoctorsdiscoveredwhatwasthenthoughttobeaveryseriousheartailment.AuntEdithdoesn’tacceptdefeateasily.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’twaittocomein;shestoodinthehallandreadaloud:“Yourbeautifullettermovedmeverydeeply.IfyoucancometoHouston,therewillbenochargeforeitherthehospitalortheoperation.Signed—MichaelDeBakey.”Thatwassevenyearsago.Sincethen,AuntEdithhasbeenaroundtheworld.Herthreechildrenarehappilymarried.Forherage,sheisoneoftheyoungest,mostalivepeopleIknow----allbecauseofanopenheartsurgeonwhoknewhowtohonorofhisprofession,andhowtoopenhisownheart.