Sad news
My daughter's heart surgeon, Dr. Bechara Akl, died on October 21st of cancer. He was only 61 years old. He was a man of few words, but a giant in his field. My daughter was transferred into his care when she was only 3 weeks old. She had two large holes in her heart (called Ventricular and Atrial septal defects). He knew I was a nurse so spoke to me as professional to professional, which wasn't always the case with other physicians.
After her surgery (which went well), it took a long time for her heart to regain its natural rhythm. Several cardiologists were trying to prepare me for the possibility that she would need an internal pacemaker. But not Dr. Akl. He knew where he'd operated and had faith that Brooke would be fine.
The morning of day seven, it was determined by the cardiologists that she would need the pacemaker and plans were made for later that afternoon. A few minutes after they left, Dr. Akl came in. He looked at the chart, and then looked at me. I was tearful but still hopeful that a miracle would come. And it did, in the form of Dr. Akl. He softly put his hand on my shoulder, looked me in the eye and said, "It (her heart rhythm) will come back. Soon. She won't need that pacemaker. I promise it." Within a few hours, she no longer needed the external pacer wires and surgery was cancelled.
He didn't have lengthy conversations with his patients' families, but he was tender with the children. Brooke had her picture taken with him at one of the annual cardiac patient picnics. In her scrapbook (whenever I get to it), he will be listed as one of her heroes. She is alive because he did his job and, I believe, it wasn't just a career - it was a calling.
Dr. Bechara Akl will be greatly missed...but his memory carries on in the lives of the children he saved.
After her surgery (which went well), it took a long time for her heart to regain its natural rhythm. Several cardiologists were trying to prepare me for the possibility that she would need an internal pacemaker. But not Dr. Akl. He knew where he'd operated and had faith that Brooke would be fine.
The morning of day seven, it was determined by the cardiologists that she would need the pacemaker and plans were made for later that afternoon. A few minutes after they left, Dr. Akl came in. He looked at the chart, and then looked at me. I was tearful but still hopeful that a miracle would come. And it did, in the form of Dr. Akl. He softly put his hand on my shoulder, looked me in the eye and said, "It (her heart rhythm) will come back. Soon. She won't need that pacemaker. I promise it." Within a few hours, she no longer needed the external pacer wires and surgery was cancelled.
He didn't have lengthy conversations with his patients' families, but he was tender with the children. Brooke had her picture taken with him at one of the annual cardiac patient picnics. In her scrapbook (whenever I get to it), he will be listed as one of her heroes. She is alive because he did his job and, I believe, it wasn't just a career - it was a calling.
Dr. Bechara Akl will be greatly missed...but his memory carries on in the lives of the children he saved.