There is a natural tension between competing constituencies in the arena of vying for federal dollars. Funding for research for health care may at times intersect sharply with those dollars required for engineering research. But sometimes, it may all coalesce and condense around a single event or group of events that serves to demonstrate the importance of collaboration. We witnessed just such an event this weekend in North Texas with the apparently hugely successful separation of Ahmed and Mohamed Ibrahim. The intersection of mechanical engineering, bioengineering, pharmacology medicine and surgery quietly and completely joined together to give these two otherwise healthy boys their best chance at a normal life. With the image of the two Iranian sisters, who recently were lost during a similar operation still fresh in our minds, who was not apprehensive that evening as the 34-hour operation commenced. And almost too quickly, the panel of medical experts was out in front of cameras, serious and professional, but the inadvertent smiles that they could not suppress told the story better than all the jargon and anatomical drawings. These boys could be ok. These boys would be ok. I know that feeling, leaving the operation room just after a lengthy case when no amount of fatigue or physical protestation can quell the feeling or elation when – you realize what you just did saved a life! – But, I also know the obverse side of that feeling when things go, in spite of your hard work, terribly wrong and someone’s mother, daughter, friend or infant will not be leaving the OR, ER or ICU. I have a new job now – one which deals with policy rather than surgical skill. And my new job, while rewarding, sometimes has days of doubt. So how nice it was to stand with one foot in the political world, but one, not too far removed from the medical world, and to vicariously savor the moment of triumph not only for our medical professionals, but everyone who devotes a life to making things better for those around them. Everyone who was involved in the effort - from doctors, nurses and technicians, to the theoretical and practical professionals who developed the specialized O.R. table, monitors and medicines. Individuals from both the private and public sector entities who pushed the research and development of these incredible devices –all of these people deserve our gratitude and admiration. Without them, the miracle at Dallas’ Children’s Hospital may not have been possible. And we are all reminded of how sometimes, when we focus on very big and noble causes, we are all rewarded many times over. No one would have faulted the team at Children’s Medical Center Dallas had they said – this is too dangerous and unpredictable. As sad as the Iranian twins in Singapore were, we were comforted by the fact that two grown women voluntarily took that risk – the same could not be said for these children. So the risk of failure was that much greater; the avenue of criticism that much wider if success were not the outcome. But Children’s Medical Center responded to the challenge, and the world today is a better place because they did. Printed in the Star Community Newspapers