Posted on 02/26/2008 11:45:04 AM PST by trumandogz
Former Polish president Lech Walesa, who received a Nobel Peace Prize after leading a movement that ultimately brought down the nation's communist regime, is in Houston being evaluated for a possible heart transplant.
An official at the Methodist Hospital's DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center said doctors have not yet determined whether Walesa's heart failure will require a transplant. She said doctors are hoping to forestall a transplant or use another treatment.
Walesa will receive a pacemaker Wednesday or Thursday, she said.
Walesa, 64, arrived in Houston from Poland Monday night. He is undergoing tests today.
If Walesa is determined to need a heart transplant and goes on the official transplant list, he would need to relocate here while waiting for a donor organ to become available, said the Methodist official.
Walesa led Poland's Solidarity labor union in the 1980s in nationwide, peaceful strikes against the country's communist regime to demand workers' rights and freedom. The strikes soon turned into a social revolution that toppled the communists and spread the seed of democracy in Eastern Europe.
Walesa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983 and He served as Poland's first democratically elected president from 1990 to 1995.
The Debakey Center is named for legendary heart surgeon Michael DeBakey, whose skill and pioneering advances has brought VIP patients from around the world to Methodist.
Isn’t is strange how people come from all over the World to have life-saving medical care in our disfunctional, crisis-ridden health care system.
I thought he already had the heart of a Texan.
And he came here for his medical care...
(I have to admit though, some of the most beautiful people in Europe are Polish, so maybe it might just be worth it.)
Shouldn’t he go to Cuba? Don’t they have a far superior healthcare system? That’s what Michael Moore says.
I was idealistic back then & he was a hero of mine. I grew up in the dominant Polish area in America. We called it Lil Warsaw in Chicago.
Back then Poland was known for educating doctors. wonder what happened there?
Privatisation by the back door
The health workers’ strike and the future of medical care in Poland ... medical care to 6%. Currently Poland has the second lowest level of health-care
The health workers’ strike and the future of medical care in Poland
http://libcom.org/library/privatisation-back-door-health-workers-strike-future-medical-care-poland
The Workers’ Struggle that Opened Pandora’s Box
http://www.anarkismo.net/newswire.php?story_id=6210
Prayers for his health and a successful surgery.
Walesa, Thatcher, Reagan... those were the times.
Lucky guy, Texans have big hearts!
Prayers up
Perfectly said. Indeed he does.
God bless, & keep, the Polish people. A superior culture.
Prayers, and hopes, for this heroic Texan.
He was planning on going to Canada but was told the waiting list was 59 years.
Wish he’d stay and run for governor. :)
>>He was planning on going to Canada but was told the waiting list was 59 years<<
LOL!!! That would even be funnier if it weren’t so true!
It takes great big balls to do what he did.
I hope all goes well for him here.
I’m proud he’s coming to Texas.
Walesa came to Panna Maria, about 65 miles from San Antonio, for their 150th anniversary, it’s the first permanent Polish settlement in the US.
And hey, what is the Texas flag, but a Polish flag with the blue backround and the star added to it?
With rumors of him being in the Polish Underground in his youth and Jesuits being code breakers, one wonders what else went on to liberate Poland.
I still wonder if what Ford said to Carter in the debate about a free Poland was an Intel slip up on his part.....
I don't know the origin of the Texas flag, but the state has few Polish roots that I'm aware of.
Central Texas has quite a few ties to the Czechs and Germans, but I'd guess the Texas and Polish flags similarity is probably a coincidence.
There's no doubt that Texans have admiration for Poland and Lech Walesa. But everywhere, except San Francisco, Americans like strong men and hot chicks.
prayers for a great man.
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