Fwd: Fw: Announcement send unencrypted

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We have lost a wonderful pioneer for children, Dr. Melvin . Please read.

Shellie

Note: forwarded message attached.

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[Guest guest]

" W. Grant " wrote: From: " W. Grant "

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Subject: Fw: Announcement send unencrypted

Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 10:15:51 -0600

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Announcement send unencrypted

Dear Families, Friends and Colleagues,

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the death of Dr. Melvin D.

, who died early this morning, Monday,

January 14, 2008 at the age of 66 after a long battle with prostate cancer.

We know that to many of you, Dr. was a trusted physician, a colleague, a

personal friend. His passing is a great loss to the Thoracic Institute, to

CHRISTUS Santa Children’s Hospital and to all “rib” kids. Our deepest

condolences are extended to his wife, lyn, their children, Meredith, Elaine,

and Melvin , II and family, as well as his siblings and mother.

As many of you know, the Titanium Rib Project began in 1987 when Dr.

approached me about a patient with severe congenital absence of ribs and

scoliosis. The infant, who was full-time ventilator dependent, was expected to

die without intervention. We implanted a chest wall prosthesis using orthopaedic

fracture pins to try to help him, and, to our amazement, he was then able to be

weaned from the ventilator. The titanium rib was developed just for this child

so that his artificial chest could grow with him. The Titanium Rib Project

evolved from the care of this first child and, through the efforts of Dr.

and myself over the past 20 years, surgeons in 26 countries now use the titanium

rib to help other children. We never thought it would get this big, but it seems

it is here to stay as a new standard of care for young children with spine and

chest wall birth defects. The FDA approval of the titanium rib in 2004 was a

great accomplishment for us, and for the many

families, children, and colleagues who helped make it possible.

Dr. received his medical degree from University in Washington,

D.C., and has held various positions throughout his medical career, including

serving as Acting Chief of the Division of Surgery at Wilford Hall Medical

Center, Chief of Pediatric Surgery at Santa Children’s Hospital, President

of the San Surgical Society, and President of the Texas Society of

Pediatric Surgeons.

Dr. and I spent years developing the five surgical procedures made

possible by the titanium rib. He taught me a great deal about thoracic surgery

for children and made many contributions. He pioneered the insertion of

tracheostomy tubes through the breast bone for children with short neck

syndromes who could not otherwise be ventilated. His colleagues in pediatric

surgery were amazed when he presented our work to the American Pediatric

Surgical Association Meeting. Dr. ’s contributions have helped give hope

and life to many children throughout the world.

Dr. was a kind and compassionate individual who never failed to take the

time to listen to a child’s concern, calm a parent’s fears, or answer a

colleague’s question. To many “rib” kids and parents, he was their hero. His

passing is a great loss and he will be sorely missed by all. We appreciate all

of you “rib families” and friends of Dr who made a special effort to be in

San the past few years for the “rib kid” picnics in his honor. We will

continue to have these yearly as a memorial to Dr. .

I have lost not only a colleague, but also good friend, who had worked

tirelessly to help children in spite of his disease for the past 10 years. He

fought his cancer hard, with a brave dignity that was an inspiration to us all.

He will always be admired and respected for all he has done for others. I will

miss him.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the CHRISTUS

Santa Foundation for the Thoracic Institute-Titanium Rib Program at

CHRISTUS Santa Children’s Hospital, San TX. Sympathy cards may be

sent to the Family c/o CSRCH Thoracic Institute, 333 North Santa

Street, San TX 78207. A memorial service, which will be held at Asbury

United Methodist Church, 4601 San Pedro, San TX 78212, has not been

finalized. Details will be forthcoming.

Dr. Bob

CHRISTUS Santa Children’s Hospital

San , Texas

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