A Senior Moment: For Baby Boomers and Beyond
By Marsha Andrews, JD
February is a commemorative month, as we celebrate Black History Month, President’s Day and of course Valentine’s Day. Most Americans, this month are driven by the “Madison Avenue” concept of the affairs of the heart – giving flowers, candy, cards of special sentiment and of course, the romantic dinners.
I would like to concentrate on, and give thanks to, our fore fathers – and mothers – of science and medicine who created inventions to promote heart health. In 1893, Dr. Daniel Hale Williams performed the first successful open heart surgery in America. Also, Dr. Vivien Theodore Thomas developed the procedure used to treat “Blue Baby Syndrome” – a four-part anomaly that produces a discoloration of “blueness” in infants.
Today, inventors such as Otis F. Boykin invented, among other things, a control unit for the artificial heart stimulator (pacemaker). Eric Williams, an engineering consultant, designed and developed medical devices such as the cardiac stent, which helps to avoid the arduous procedure of open-heart surgery and other devices involving coronary, neuron and peripheral vascular defects.
Although her invention did not fall in the arena of heart health, Dr. Patricia Bath, a noted ophthalmologist, received a patent for her cataract Laserphaco Probe – used to remove cataracts with precision laser beams. Notwithstanding Dr. Baths’ accomplishments, Percy L. Julian was recognized for his synthesis of cortisone, which is used in the treatment of arthritis and other inflammatory diseases.
Our taste buds are not the same due to, George Crum who invented the potato chip in 1853. The story is that Chef Crum was running low on potatoes while making French fries. A raucous crowd began to complain about not having enough of the then popular fries, as well as not liking the way they were sliced. In retaliation, Crum decided to cut the potatoes thinner than normal, and deep-fry them with more salt than usual. This, he thought, would make his customers leave in disgust because the thinly sliced potato could not be eaten with a fork. To Crum’s dismay, this became a new snack for the patrons. Chef Crum later opened his own restaurant, featuring the new chips. Unfortunately, Crum did not patent his invention and others took his idea and bagged the chips for convenience.
Historically, our fore fathers and mothers designed, invented, and/or enhanced tools, instruments, services, processes and procedures, not only out of necessity, but also for the good of America. Inventions of necessity were predicated on the need of having “our own” due to social isolation. This is where the old adage of “necessity is the mother of invention” comes from. Other inventions are based upon the premise of “how can I, as an indigent servant”, make an existing product operate easier, faster, smoother, lighter, etc., henceforth the Cotton Gin. Many of these same inventions are still used today.
Finally, there is Mrs. Henrietta Lacks, the mother of the HELA Cell. Who is she? Henrietta was an African American woman, whom you might say, has the propensity to live “forever.” Though she died of cervical cancer in 1951, she unknowingly held the key to unlocking medical advancements (from polio vaccines to chemotherapy drugs) in her tumor cells. Upon her death, a biopsy of her cervical cancer was taken by a researcher, Dr. George Gey, and his lab assistant, Mary Kubicek. Together, they discovered that Henrietta’s cells could not only reproduce, but also THRIVE outside the body–a breakthrough that would change the future of modern medicine. As a result, Mrs. Lack’s cells have been shipped to outer space and used for cytological cultivations of various viruses.
In closing, I want to reiterate how our history demonstrates that African Americans are a people of vision and courage. Our adversities result in triumphs that makes us stronger! No matter the struggle or the purpose, our visions live on for eternity.
Thanks for taking a senior moment to commemorate Black History Month with me. See you next month.
