Dr. Michael DeBakery

Dr. MICHAEL E. DEBAKEY

Remarks of U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell

Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony Honoring Dr. Michael E. DeBakey

"Today we present Dr. Michael DeBakey with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honor Congress can bestow. Y et, modesty probably prevents Dr. DeBakey from revealing that this is far from the biggest honor he has ever received.

"I mean ‘big' quite literally: King Leopold and Princess Lilian of Belgium once commissioned a 300-pound bronze bust of Dr. DeBakey for his achievements in medicine.

"That bust stands in a Houston hospital today. Dr. DeBakey, even if this Congressional Medal is not as handsome as that bust, at least you can take it home with you.

"From his creation of the MASH unit, to his pioneering of many heart-surgery procedures, to his invention of the life-saving devices used in those procedures, Dr. DeBakey is the premiere cardiovascular surgeon of our time.

"At age 99, he makes history again as the oldest survivor of his own operation. In 2006 he successfully underwent surgery to repair an aortic aneurysm.

"'It is a miracle…I really should not be here,' Dr. DeBakey said after the procedure that saved his life.

"Thousands of others who live thanks to the same operation have similar feelings. All of them know that miraculous procedure would not be possible without Dr. Michael DeBakey.

"Doctor, we are grateful for your lifetime of devotion to the field of medicine, not least of all so that we have the honor of presenting you with this Congressional Gold Medal today. Thank you for your service to your country and the world."

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