Making miracles

Medical magician: Houston doc lauded for performing most heart transplants ever, saving thousands

The remarkable career of Dr. O.H. "Bud" Frazier was celebrated by a powerhouse collection of cardiologists and surgeons at a Texas Heart Institute dinner in his honor where magic tricks, quotations from Shakespeare and high praise were on the menu.

Hosted by THI president and director of cardiology research Dr. James T. Willerson, the dinner at Tony's saluted Frazier for a career that has included 1,500 heart transplants, the implantation of 1,000 left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) and the implantation of innumerable heart pumps.

"Medicine is his lawful wife and literature is his mistress."

"It is unbelievable the lives that he has saved in his remarkable career," Willerson told the gathering of close to 70 medical center headliners. "He has done more heart transplants than anyone who has ever lived."

The praise continued with Willerson noting that Frazier is the classic Renaissance man, a historian with a thirst for literature including Shakespeare, whom Willerson quoted. “'Action is eloquence,' Shakespeare wrote. And by that definition, Bud Frazier is one of the most eloquent men I have been privileged to know."

Joining in the praise was Texas Heart Institute president emeritus Dr. Denton Cooley, who turns 94 in August, and Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale, who noted that for Frazier, "Medicine is his lawful wife and literature is his mistress." Of course, Frazier's wife Rachel, who joined the dinner, might disagree.

Among the Texas Medical Center heavy-hitters joining the celebration were Dr. Robert Robbins, TMC president and CEO; Dr. Steve Moore, Catholic Health Initiatives senior vice president and Chief Medical Officer; Dr. George Ruel; Dr. Steve Singh and Dr. Billy Cohn, who performed the magic trick before dinner transforming six $1 bills into $100 bills and back again. Cohn and Frazier are partners in development of the "beatless" heart.

The impressive lineup of guests included Texas Heart Institute CEO Marc Mattson and Barbara Mattson, former Mayor Bob Lanier and Elyse Lanier, Louise Cooley, Margaret Alkek Williams, Cornelia and Meredith Long, Rosalie and Billy Hitchcock, Reed Morian, Kay and Fred Zeidman, David Grimes and Morton Cohn, THI's longest serving board member at 41 years.

Elyse and Bob Lanier.

Photo by © Ken Hoge Texas Heart Institute

Elyse and Bob Lanier.

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Party Watch

Butterflies and margaritas mark Houston nonprofit's Galentine's luncheon

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Jamie Grisson, Kendall Plank, Donna Lewis, Susan Plank, and Jill Lack.

What: Galentine’s Day for Dec My Room

Where: Tootsies and Armandos

The Scoop: Retail therapy met donations in style as more than 130 women kicked off Galentine’s festivities bright and early at Tootsies. The boutique opened its doors for a morning shopping fête featuring pop-ups and trunk shows, with jeweler Angela Mia’s designs quickly becoming the unofficial uniform of the day.

The crowd migrated to Armandos for a seated luncheon where skinny margs and sizzling fajitas kept spirits lively. Founders Kendall Plank and Susan Plank mingled while chairs Jamie Grissom and Jill Lack toasted a record-setting afternoon. A short but meaningful program spotlighted Dec My Room’s expansion into more hospitals and the thousands of rooms transformed nationwide.

During the “Butterflies Up” appeal, guests lifted butterfly emblems as a nod to the nonprofit’s logo. Remarks from Kari Lown of Texas Children’s Hospital reinforced just how impactful personalized hospital rooms can be.

More than $125,000 were raised through tables, tickets, donations, and a raffle. After lunch, many floated back to Tootsies for one last look through the racks.

Who: Laurie Krohn, Stacey Lindseth, Donna Lewis, Denise Tinkham, Patrice Alinger, Britney Tribble, Kristin Blomquist, Clare Jackson Sullivan, Jennifer Pinkerton, Lesha Elsenbrook, Laurel Bashaw, Martha Adger Madgett, Tiffany LaRose, Maggie Garza, Jen Brice, Melissa Juneau, Jeannie Chandler, Julia Morales, Chelsea Collmer, Laurie Sanders, Donae Chramosta, Barbara Lack, Lara Lack, Yuni Paufiques, Kim Eschete, Veronica Roa, Kiki Wilson, Noel Wise, and Disney Harris.

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Jamie Grisson, Kendall Plank, Donna Lewis, Susan Plank, and Jill Lack.

fundraisers dec my room