Benjamin Carson, born in 1951 to Sonya and Robert Carson in Detroit, Michigan, experienced a significant transformation during his formative years. At the age of six, his parents divorced, leading him and his brother Curtis, along with their mother, to move to Boston, Massachusetts in 1959. After spending two years there, they eventually returned to their hometown of Detroit in 1961.
Initially, Ben Carson faced difficulties in school and struggled with poor academic performance. However, his grades began to improve when he failed a fifth-grade eye test, which revealed his extremely poor eyesight that was hindering his learning abilities. With the help of glasses and his mother’s support, Ben gradually emerged as the top student in his class.
Despite Ben’s increasing intelligence, he had developed a volatile temperament that had caused some minor issues in the past. However, during an argument outside with his friend, things escalated to the point where Ben pulled out his camping knife and threatened his companion. Surprisingly, the knife broke and Ben immediately fled from the scene. Seeking safety in his bathroom at home, he barricaded himself inside and turned to reading the Bible for solace. It was during this period of seclusion that Ben had a sudden realization and understood how harmful his anger was. He made a solemn vow never to let it control him again.
The positive change in Ben’s attitude led to beneficial results for him. As a result, he joined the ROTC program while in high school and excelled, earning a full scholarship offer from the United States Military Academy.
During his time at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut in 1968, Ben Carson received a scholarship. It was also during this period that he met Lacena “Candy” Rustin, who was a freshman. Eventually, Candy graduated from Yale in 1975 while Ben had already started studying medicine at the University of Michigan. As a result, they decided to get married.
In 1978, Carson finished his medical studies and began his residency at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. He was selected as one of two interns who focused on neurosurgery.
Carson and Candy joyfully moved to Australia in 1983, where they happily became parents to their son Murray.
Ben Carson assumed the role of chief pediatric neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins in Maryland in 1984. In the following year, he demonstrated his abilities by performing a hemsipherectomy on Maranda Francisco, a patient afflicted with Rasmussen’s encephalitis.
Dr. Carson performed numerous challenging surgeries like the one mentioned.
During 1987 and 1988, Dr. Carson achieved numerous accomplishments. These included receiving three Honorary Doctorates of Science Awards, being honored with the American Black Achievement Award from Ebony, and receiving the Paul Harris Fellow Award from Rotary International. Additionally, he published two books: Pediatric Neurosurgery and Acondroplasia.
In September 1987, Dr. Ben Carson undertook his most perilous surgery to date, aiming to separate conjoined twins located at the posterior of their heads. The surgery lasted twenty-two hours and achieved its goal.
In 1989, he was awarded the Candle Award by Morehouse University.
In 1992, Ben Carson, who was 47 years old at the time, authored two books titled Think Big and Gifted Hands. Presently, he is employed at Johns Hopkins Hospital and has a spouse along with three kids.
