The magic tricks were fairly jaw-dropping, to say the least, and the wit was as quick and rapid-fire as could be, a combination that guaranteed Jon Dorenbos maintained command of the attentive second-year medical students at LSU Health Sciences Center on Tuesday afternoon.
But, more, Dorenbos wanted to impress upon the students that maintaining positive attitudes would be just as vital as the knowledge accumulated, and that each of them in the future literally could be positioned to change or save a life, as he most certainly believes was done for him by New Orleans Saints team physician John Amoss.
"When you save somebody's life, you're stuck with them for life," Dorenbos said of Amoss. "I love this man.
"You guys have a chance to change people's lives, literally and figuratively. Your presence in a room changes people. The way you can give them their diagnosis can change people. This guy right here (hugging Amoss), best thing that ever happened to me."
Dorenbos flew to New Orleans from California so that he could speak, in person, to the students, to provide a patient's perspective of being diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, so that the aspiring doctors better can relate to future patients.
He played 14 years in the NFL as a long snapper, including every game for nine straight years in a 10-year career with the Eagles. Dorenbos was a two-time Pro Bowler when he was traded to New Orleans on Aug. 28, 2017, in exchange for a seventh-round pick.
It was in New Orleans, by Amoss, that it was discovered he had an aortic aneurysm. The announcement was made Sept. 7, 10 days after the trade.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
New Orleans Saints team physician Dr. John Amoss speaks to students at LSU medical school on how he discovered long snapper Jon Dorenbos' heart defect on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
Dorenbos was placed on the non-football illness list that day, was released with an injury settlement on Sept. 9, and retired.
"I could not have felt bigger and badder," he said. "I did this show called 'America's Got Talent,' it went really well. I went back to the Eagles, I broke the record for most consecutive games played. They traded me to New Orleans.
"So, got traded to New Orleans, I wanted to be an Eagle my whole career – it didn't happen. I got traded right before a (preseason) game, I played the game, the next morning I woke up, I've got to do my physical because when you get traded, you've got to do a physical to make sure the asset is good, right?
"This dude (Amoss) walked into the locker room. So I took my shirt off: 'Doc, let's go, I got things to do, people to see. Let's go
"(Amoss says), 'Take a deep breath. Hold it. Again. Did anyone ever tell you you have a murmur?'
'No, no.'
Dorenbos said Amoss made a few calls and told Dorenbos, "We're going to send you down to the hospital. We want to do some extra tests, make sure you're OK.
"So I go to the hospital, do the echocardiogram. So, I get the results, they say, 'Hey, you're never playing football ever again, you're going to be in emergency open-heart surgery in about 48 hours. Don't lift anything heavy, don't drink caffeine, don't laugh, just sit. So, obviously a lot goes on in your head at that moment.
"And I remember looking at (Amoss). He explained what had happened. And I remember looking at him, and he called me to come here today, and he goes, 'Do you remember what you said to me?' I said, 'Hell yeah, I do.' Because you've got to find a little humor in the situation.
"I said, 'Doc, holy sh--! Thank you for paying attention on stethoscope day in med school.'"
Dorenbos almost never made it to Amoss' exam, to be "saved by a Saint," he said. He'd done so well on "America's Got Talent" that he said Simon Cowell, one of the show's judges, wanted Dorenbos to be the next host. However, he didn't get the job.
"Had I gotten that job, I would have called the Eagles and quit that second," he said. "But I didn't. I was bummed, because that was my dream job. So I went back and I played for the Eagles, they traded me. I meet (Amoss), and I'm still standing here today.
"I'll tell you a valuable less I learned: Sometimes when things don't go your way, it just might be the best thing that has ever happened to you. So don't overreact. Never get too high, never get too low. Just ride the wave."
