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"I grew up with a real appreciation for Dr. Blalock and his team, as I was his last patient to receive the "Blue Baby" surgery before his retirement and death a year or so later."
Submitted by: Tom Rothschild, Monkton, MD
I grew up with a real appreciation for Dr. Blalock and his team, as I was his last patient to receive the "Blue Baby" surgery before his retirement and death a year or so later. I was 3 at the time of my surgery (July, 1963) and I have vivid memories of Dr. Blalock coming in to check on me. At the time, I had a child's pre-occupation with turkeys, so everyone I encountered became labeled a turkey. So, rather than thank you, I chose to label the kind doctor a turkey! I also have vivid memories of the drive to the hospital for check-ups a few years later and the riots in Baltimore. I remember hiding in the backseat, peering over the seats to the National Guardsmen protecting the streets with tanks and machine guns. My Mom was unable to explain to me how people could hate or distrust others simply by the color of their skin. Twenty years later, I was working as a salesman in Men's shop after graduating from college when a gentleman asked for assistance with the purchase of a new suit. I soon discovered that he was the son of the late Dr. Blalock. I immediately hugged him and thanked him profusely for everything his Dad did! He thanked me and summarily left. I think the company may have lost a customer that day, but I felt great! Thanks for opting to produce this story. It's important on so many fronts and please thank any family that you may come in contact with anyone from the group. My "heartfelt" thanks, Tom Rothschild
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