Tuesday, December 8, 2015

A GIANT of a man...in all senses of the word

We went on a cruise right after Thanksgiving and stopped in the ports of Jamaica, Caymen Island, and Cozumel, Mexico. We enjoy sailing the high seas, and let me tell you, that ship was rocking this time as we went through some heavy storms. The result was the cancellation of top deck, outdoor movie viewing, dance parties at night, and our last shore excursion. But overall, the trip was fun and we were able to relax for a few days.

 I WALKED ON A BEACH and SWAM IN THE CARIBBEAN SEA. I got my fix! I will make it through winter, now.

This cruise was completely different from the spring break cruise, where preteens ran wild.
There were few children on board and lots of senior citizens. We met some very interesting and friendly people. Like most passengers on board, I was unaware that that we walked among greatness, a true American hero.

He stood 7 feet tall, had a commanding presence, and after Googling him, I learned he has a host of aliases and occupations:

Chicago Slim, (his handle as a blue's guitarist and co-leader of a Chicago's Blues Band.)

 Right Reverened Dr. D. (his DJ handle) He was a Blues music radio announcer for years.

An All Star, All state American Prep basketball player in high school. What do you expect at 7 ft tall?

His other moniker is "The Bone Doc."

When he walked into the ship's comedy club, it was obvious he was a dignitary and received VIP treatment. He and his wife sat in front of us. I overheard his conversation with the comedy club manager. "Yeah, every now and then, I just have to get away and relax. You can't do what I do everyday of the week."

When we went to our cabin, I was amazed to see his picture flashed across the television on CNN.

Dr. Daniel Ivankovich has been selected as one of CNN's Top 10 Heroes.

A remarkable orthopedic surgeon, who operates out of three Chicago clinics, has served more than 100,000 uninsured or under insured patients since 2010 through his non-profits. He treats patients regardless of their ability to pay. He performs 5-7 surgeries a day. He IS a hero.

He was born in Croatia; his family defected to Chicago in 1965 when he was two years old. You can read more about him at the link below, and also discover who the other 9 CNN Heroes are, and how to vote for them.
I lifted this photo from his Face book page.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Ivankovich


http://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2015/10/08/cnn-heroes-how-to-vote.cnn
 

8 comments:

Bookie said...

So nice you met a great man, an added perk to the trip! Sorry about the storms but sounds like you still had some good times. Hope you are rested!

DUTA said...

Cruises can be relaxing and interesting if one doesn't have seasickness. I usually do.
A tall person immediately attracts my attention,regardless of what he is or does; perhaps it's because I'm the opposite, short of stature.
As for dr. Ivanovich, fortunately he's not alone. I've read about more doctors that help those in need without charging money. Blessed be these medical people!

Connie said...

He does indeed sound like a true hero. Glad you got your fix of sea and sand to get you through the winter. We are taking a trip between Christmas and New Year's when I hope to get a fix of my own. :)

Val said...

I suppose the Truth in Blogging Law prevents you from casually saying that you were "rubbing elbows" with the statuesque Bone Doc...

Pat Wahler said...

A cruise sounds wonderful, although the weather here today was darn close to cruise-type weather. Glad you had fun!

Pat
Critter Alley

Sioux Roslawski said...

Linda--This is not the first time you've had an "eventful" cruise...

Blame it on your cruise partner... He's a force to be reckoned with.

Julia Gordon-Bramer said...

What a good heart!

Lisa Ricard Claro said...

Thanks for bringing this great man to our attention!

I'm envious of your cruise. We haven't been on a cruise in quite some time, and like you, I need my beach fixes! In withdrawal.

When my son and his new bride cruised for their honeymoon they ended up on a ship full of geriatrics. lol They were the youngest couple on the ship. On the bright side, they told me, they pretty much had the whole place to themselves after 9 pm. lol