This was the scene last Monday afternoon as my siblings and uncle crowded into my dad’s room in ICU after his open-heart surgery. Not long after this photo was taken we got kicked out for breaking the “only two visitors allowed at a time” rule. We probably could have stayed, but it was getting kinda loud – pretty sure that was my Uncle John’s fault. I think we were all just relieved that my dad had come through his surgery just fine, and was now trying to get anyone he could to take that breathing tube out of his mouth!

I mentioned back in February that my dad has been a Sales Representative for Resistol Hats forever – or at least for the last 30+ years. This is often the scene at his house – cowboy hats and western shirts everywhere. His territory covers much of central and south Texas, which is a really good territory to have when you are selling cowboy hats!

So for someone who has been swimming in the fashion sea of “all things cowboy,” imagine my dad’s delight to learn that his surgeon is known not only for his stellar reputation and skill in the world of heart surgery, but he’s also known as “the surgeon who wears cowboy boots.” A nurse recently asked my dad, “Who will be doing your surgery?”

“Dr. Marvin Smith,” he replied.

“The one who wears the cowboy boots?” she asked.

“That’s the one,” he confirmed.

Well, Dr. Smith came by on Saturday morning to visit with my dad, and sign off on his getting to go home that day. He went over several things with us before asking if my dad had any more questions….

“Yes. I was wondering what kind of boots you wear?” was his final question to the heart surgeon.

Well, it turns out that these boots aren’t just your ordinary pair of go ranchin’ or go dancin’ cowboy boots. THESE boots are special edition TEXAS RANGER boots, available to any Texas Ranger or member of the Texas Rangers Association. And I’m not talking about the baseball team.

Think Chuck Norris.

At first, I had no idea what he was talking about. Then I thought baseball. THEN I remembered the TV show and got a vision in my mind of Dr. Smith doing roundhouse kicks and putting bad guys behind bars when he’s not performing heart surgeries, so I asked…”What Texas Rangers are you talking about?”

He explained that he is a member of the Texas Rangers Association, which is a group that supports the Rangers in their work by raising money and awareness through the Texas Ranger Museum in Waco. (My dad and brother had both been to the museum, and attested to how fascinating it is.) He also explained that the Texas Rangers are a sort of The FBI of Texas. Up until this moment, I didn’t even realize they were a legitimate law enforcement entity! Well, I’m not sure if I can even call myself a native, multi-generational Texan after what I learned about this well-respected, skilled group.
(My dad did mention his embarrassment and shame over my ignorance after Dr. Smith left.)

Dr. Smith told us that the Texas Rangers might be called in when “the La Salle County Courthouse safe has been broken into, since it might be the sheriff’s nephew who stole the money.” : ) The Rangers are also the only non-federal government organization ever called in to do an investigation of a federal government issue and report to Congress on the matter. This was the case in the Waco/Branch Davidian ordeal in the early 90’s. That’s just how reputable this group is, and Dr. Smith is proud to be a supporting member. He demonstrated this pride, when I asked if I could take a picture of his boots for my dad. He said “Of course!” and crossed his legs and hiked up his pant leg so that I could get a proper shot.

Not only is Dr. Smith incredibly experienced and skilled at surgery (and hunting, too, I’m pretty sure), he is immensely humble and accommodating. He never forgets a face or situation, and when I called his office to see if he could get my dad in for a follow-up appointment a day early so that my dad could get checked off to drive before he lost his “daughter-drivers,” he made a special allowance to see him on Friday though he doesn’t typically see patients on Fridays. When his receptionist called me back she said, “Dr. Smith said he would see your dad Friday at 1:30pm IF he does not have jury duty.” (He had to report for this on Wednesday.)

Turns out, he did not get selected to a jury. (Are we surprised? He also wears a tie with Texas flags all over it.) And not only that, but when my sister arrived with my dad Friday afternoon, Dr. Smith still had one last heart procedure to perform. When he learned that my dad was waiting, he made a special trip back to the office to see him before his last procedure for the day.

All of the wonderful reviews we had heard about this man were only confirmed by our experience, and it was a true blessing – with Texas Ranger cowboy boots to boot! ; )

And here’s my dad showing off his battle scar and Dr. Smith’s handiwork. Would you believe that this smiling pose was just a couple of days after surgery?

To those of you who prayed, thank you so much! The Lord provided a smooth surgery, a rapid recovery, and a skilled and boot-wearing-kindred-spirit-of-a-surgeon for my dad!

And not only that, but confirmation that there really is no place like Texas, where not only do the heart surgeons not have egos as big as barns, they may actually have barns.