Dr. Ben Carson’s life was shaped by three key influences: God, ROTC, and his mom. Despite being abandoned by his father, Dr. Carson’s mother played a crucial role in raising him and instilling the importance of prayer. She always encouraged him to turn to God for strength during difficult times. Furthermore, Dr. Carson was inspired to join ROTC because of his admiration for his brother who was already involved in the program.
Ben Carson faced almost succumbing to peer pressure during his school years, as his fellow classmates insisted that he had to wear fashionable clothes in order to fit in. They even suggested that he should mistreat those who didn’t adhere to the trend.
Dr. Ben Carson, being a Neurosurgeon, possesses innate talents that contributed to his success. He has been bestowed with exceptional eye coordination and a consistently steady hand, which are crucial for precise manipulation of specific regions within the skull.
The Foramen Ovale is a large hole in the skull that transmits nerves throughout.
Dr. Ben Carson, a neurosurgeon, devised a technique in his field that involves using two small metal rings on the front and back skull. The purpose is to locate the Foramen Ovale, an exact location crucial in neurosurgery. Dr. Carson’s innovation helps save time and ensures accuracy by utilizing an x-ray beam to confirm the alignment of the metal rings.
In the 1920s, Dr. Walter Dandy, a pioneering neurosurgeon at John Hopkins, attempted the Hemispherectomy procedure which unfortunately resulted in the patient’s death.
Later, around the years 1930 to 1940, another attempt was made to perform the Hemispherectomy, but the mortality rate remained high. However, the surgery was revisited as a potential remedy for infantile hemiplegic, a condition accompanied by seizures. Surgeons believed that by utilizing an EEG to analyze brain activity, they could perform the surgery successfully. Despite approximately 300 surgeries being conducted, a significant number of patients once again perished. Subsequently, experts concluded that living with the disease within the skull was far preferable to sacrificing so many lives via the Hemispherectomy procedure.
Dr. Ben Carson did not expect to perform his first Hemispherectomy when he encountered Maranda Francisco for the first time. When she was just 18 months old, Maranda had her initial grand mal seizure, also called an electrical storm in the brain. As she got older, the seizures became more frequent and affected only the right side of her body. In the winter of 1984, she received a diagnosis of Encephalitis, a highly unusual inflammation of the brain. After being referred to John Freeman and then Dr. Ben Carson, various studies were conducted on Maranda. Ultimately, Dr. Ben Carson concluded that a Hemispherectomy was the most appropriate course of action for Maranda.
During the surgery, Dr. Carson made an incision and drilled six holes in Maranda’s skull. He then removed a portion of her left brain hemisphere. Throughout the procedure, there was significant blood loss, around nine pints, which required replacing almost double the normal blood volume. Surprisingly, after waking up from the surgery, Maranda regained her ability to speak despite potential complications. This surgical accomplishment by Dr. Ben Carson marked a historic milestone in his career as no other neurosurgeon had achieved such extraordinary success previously.
The brain’s plasticity, which refers to its continuous capacity for growth and adaptation, enables it to respond to new information by remaining flexible. In instances where a section of the brain is impaired or eliminated, as in the case of a Hemispherectomy procedure, the stored data will relocate to another region within the brain. Plasticity plays a crucial role in neurosurgeries such as Hemispherectomy.
Understanding my desired career path is essential as I near the end of high school. I wholeheartedly embrace the opportunity to plan for the future using the “Think Big” acronym.
In order to achieve the same level of success as Dr. Ben Carson, I must diligently work and uphold high standards, while also having faith in God’s plan for my life.
To achieve my “Think Big” life, I must allocate more time to my school work in my daily routine. Additionally, improving my time management skills is crucial to ensure that I am consistently punctual and prepared for the path my life has set out for me. Similar to Dr. Carson, undertaking these actions is essential for me to attain success.
