Willem Johan Kolff

Willem Johan Kolff (http://foros.zackyfiles.com/showthread.php?t=639808 ())

Hero, when you hear the word you probably think of a superhero from a comic or a movie. A hero could be an everyday person too. A person who helps others and tries to make the world just a little better. Willem Johan Kolff is one such person. He was a very wise, determined, caring, inspiring, and helpful man, before his death on February 11, 2009. His work still helps save lives today.

Kolff was a brilliant man. He created the first artificial heart, and made a membrane oxygenator. His oxygenator is still used today to keep people alive during open heart surgery. He has also pioneered artificial eyes, ears, and arms.

He was so determined to help people that he developed the first artificial kidney while he was active in the resistance against the Germans in World War 2. When Kolff began working on the artificial kidney no one thought it was possible. He had no information to work with, being the first person to try creating an artificial kidney. The first 15 patients to receive the kidney didn't recover, but Kolff persevered. His artificial kidney is used as the modern day dialysis machine.

Kolff was an inspirational, and caring man. The first was a man dying of renal failure. He cared about the man so much he started his work on artificial renal function replacement. Kolff inspired people with his work. He became known as the Father of Artificial organs. He even inspired Robert Jarvik to create the first permanent artificial heart.

Kolff's medical inventions have helped save countless lives. He has helped patients in Cleveland, Ohio and and Salt Lake City, Utah. An artificial heart created under his supervision helped extend the life of Barney Clark by 4 days. This proved an artificial heart could be constructed.

An everyday person was able to do all that, and more, without superpowers. Kolff helped save millions of people's lives, just through time and hard work. If we all worked to better mankind, life would be so much better. We all have the ability to help, but only some of us do. Heroes help all the time. Not for the thanks, but to better the lives of others. Kolff isn't the only hero, we can all be heroes. Just by helping each other out from time to time, just by trying to make the world better. It's people like Kolff that make the world go round. He has helped so many people over the years. That's why I think Willem Johan Kolff is a hero.