As we gathered for another priceless birthday celebration today at Ben Taub, I continue to learn from my patient. He told me that he was turning 17 today as we laughed knowing well enough that he was clearly a few decades off. But it made me realize that perhaps we all yearn to be young again and to get a sense of belonging. He told me he worked at Shamrock Hilton and how he used to rent a horse for $3.20 to ride across the woods to a place called Ben Taub. I learned about a

Every patient has a birthday and every birthday is special. However, it has always been the unanticipated story behind the celebration of each birthday that has made this project so memorable and special. Imagine you are a Greek immigrant. English is a second language. You are waiting in the pre-op area at a large teaching hospital Ben Taub in Houston, Texas. For countless doctors and nurses that have seen you over the past month and this morning, this is just a "routine" pro