One of my favorite stories of all time is of Dr. Vivien Thomas as told through the movie Something the Lord Made. Dr. Thomas was a black man of no medical study who through quiet, unyielding desire to do good work assisted and lead the initiatives that created cardiac medicine as we know it today. His work with his mentor and friend Dr. Alfred Blalock have save millions of lives.
There may be many examples of a human spirit that has touched so many, but none that I know where such a good man was tested for so long. Dr. Thomas lived most of his life unknown behind his friend Dr. Blalock who in those decades was often singularly recognized since he was white and Vivien was only his colored assistant.
History has revealed that without Dr. Thomas even the extremely gifted Dr. Blalock may never have developed these life saving surgical techniques. But enough of the science...
Dr. Vivien Thomas has to be one of my greatest heroes of all time. He demonstrates to me that the good that you do throughout your life may never be recognized, but it remains good. It gives me hope to persevere when my faith is low. Vivien lived his life with faith and struggled through racism and ignornance to deliver more good to all than any other white man I can think of has done in return for black. I can only offer my meager gratitude for his life's work.
Dr. Vivien Thomas makes me proud of being human. He restores my belief that there are good things on the Earth. Perhaps no one at all is keeping score from on high, but we know what we do and why. Dr. Thomas reminds me to keep my faith and do my best.
I'm sure the accounting is dramatized, but this matters little for the message is true and anything that helps you believe is good.
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