The entire world had a bit of a wake-up call when esteemed scientist, Stephen Hawking, was rushed off to the hospital a few days ago. He is expected to recover and return home shortly, but meanwhile the public had a chance to give thought to what this man means to us.
To almost lose someone, to be told that his condition is critical, brings about the best in most people. His blog space and web-site were probably inundated with best wishes and heart-felt notes of love and appreciation. Why can’t we do that when he is still with us and would enjoy all of the adoration being poured on him? Let him know what he has done for this earth and its population.
Hawking has suffered from ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, since 1963. This motor-transmission disease eventually robs the body of all muscle and neuron transmission and you become a mind trapped inside a degenerating body. Normally this disease takes its toll within a few days. But he has managed to fight it off for this long. He now talks using a voice synthesizer. He has the use of three fingers and the rest of his body is paralyzed. His body sits in a wheel chair which he manipulates with his hand
But more importantly, his mind is still keen and he is one of the world’s foremost scientists in the past century. He has given lectures, spoken at conferences and most recently he had to cancel his date at the University of Phoenix. When some of us find it hard to get out of bed in the morning, this man is willing to travel from his home in London and summon the strength to give a lecture.
We should be pleased that he is still among us and we should give thanks.