In this story of the author's life, he describes the many obstacles he had to overcome to become a doctor. This journey through life was filled with successes, humor, and setbacks. His immigrant parents came from Greece to America about 1905 to find a better life. In spite of not having any finances he was able to go to college and medical school in Charleston, SC. After his internship at Jersey City Medical Center, he served in the Navy Medical Corp for eighteen months in the Pacific. After the war he specialized in Internal Medicine and Cardiology at the Philadelphia General Hospital. He returned to Charleston and served at the Medical University of South Carolina. After one year he entered private practice and remained part time at the Medical University. Building a private practice was not easy for he had to overcome many obstacles through the back door. After ten years, he returned to the Medical University to establish the Cardiology Division at a much reduced income. There he taught medical students perform research and attended to many patients. Today students in medicine have many options. They may go into general practice, become an academician, a researcher, or specialize in many fields. The cardiac division developed and became recognized nationally. Medical students made many such comments about his lectures: Dr. Gazes is amazing, incredible gifted teacher with pearls of wisdom and years of experience, his teaching style is very conducive to learning and his lectures are spiced with great stories. The author lectured in many areas of South Carolina, the United States and other countries. Teaching medical students was very rewarding. Many became successful physicians and the author frequently received telephone calls, letters, or visits from former students. In fact he has taught the majority of physicians in South Carolina.