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My Grandfather name is Mentor Tijerina De la Garza; He was born the 4 of September of 1921 in General Bravo, Nuevo León.

When he was little he lived in a ranch called “El Corralón” where he grew up with his family. Since his early years he was interested in studying but there in the ranch was almost impossible. But one day this all change. One of his uncles takes him to the city of Monterrey and gave him the opportunity to study. He really appreciates this because he not only studies in the school but also by himself when he had a chance. Later on he study medicine and his specialty was cardiovascular surgery. After he graduated he had a goal, which was to do an open-heart surgery.   

He prepared for this a lot; he read lots of books and also he practice making heart surgeries to dogs. He made a total of 1,200 surgeries to them as he learn and improve with his experience, becoming better and better each day.

Finally the 21 of March of 1953 he made the first open-heart surgery, it was a complete success and he became the first one to perform this in all Latino America. Making a total of 1,025.

I admire him a lot and I have always been a huge fan of him. I was not that old when he passes away, but the time I spend with him and with what I can remember of him is just enough for me to follow his example.

Every Sunday that I went to his house where we all eat and spend time together in family, he was the one who catch my full attention.

I remember him being always in a great mood and talking to everyone giving them his advices while we where eating, after that he went straight to the living room where he had a desk with a huge lamp, lots of books and of curse his magnifying glass always in his hand.

I remember I was constantly impressed by his magnifying glass, it was so big and it helped my grandfather a lot, with it he can read everything he wanted.

He always said yes when I ask for it and while I grabbed it in my hands I get surprised because of the fact I can saw every little word even though I was not that old to read them.

Nowadays that I’m I college and I sometimes have a lot of things to do and get stressed by this I stop and think a little about my grandfather, this is when I realize that if you really want something and that if you want to be the best one at what you love you need to give it your all, you need to study more than what is asked, you need values like responsibility, organization, perseveration and something that my grandfather was best at and I have always in my mind: you need to see everyone before you and help them before they even think of asking for your help. That way you will success at your work but more important you would success as a person.

By: Mariel Tijerina Martinez A01191933