In 1974, just days before my 39th birthday, I had a heart attack.

At the time, I was doing everything wrong — 40 pounds overweight, poor diet, too much stress in my life. I also had a family history of heart problems. My local doctor suggested I visit Cleveland Clinic for a review of my condition. 

Two months later, I flew to Cleveland. By the luck of the draw, I was examined and tested by Dr. Sones1. He told me I had two choices: I could have bypass surgery — or I would not live to be 40. That was an easy choice. I remember asking Dr. Sones if he would do the surgery. “No,” he replied. “You’ll have a real doctor.” Good news: The surgery was a success. 

In 1994, I had additional surgery to repair some veins, this time with Dr. Cosgrove2. Again, a very successful outcome. 

Years later, my wife, Margaret, and I had the honor of attending an event at the Lerner Research Institute, where we met Dr. Mihaljevic3. We had just visited Dubrovnik4, so we enjoyed sharing stories about his home country. 

I’m still “on the top of the grass,” enjoying life and my good fortune of being a patient of Cleveland Clinic. 

 

Michael Rauh celebrated his 85th birthday in July (see photo).

A family of 10 people, all wearing nice attire, standing for a photo with a sunset and field behind them

Michael Rauh, center, is flanked by his family. | Photo: Courtesy of B. Michael Rauh

Notes

  1. Renowned Cleveland Clinic cardiologist F. Mason Sones, MD, was the father of moving cine-coronary angiography, a method for viewing the heart and its vessels with X-rays recorded on motion picture film.
  2. Delos “Toby” Cosgrove, MD, was Chair of the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery before he served as CEO and President of Cleveland Clinic from 2004 to 2017.
  3. Cardiothoracic surgeon Tom Mihaljevic, MD, became CEO and President of Cleveland Clinic in 2018.
  4. A city in Dr. Mihaljevic’s homeland of Croatia.