Ben Carson

Ben Carson, MD. (http:www.neuro.jhmi.edu/profiles /photos/carson.jpg)

Although Ben Carson is a successful pediatric neurosurgeon, his life hasn't always been so fulfilling. Benjamin S. Carson was born on September 18, 1951. He has one one older brother, Curtis, and parents who were happily married, although their marriage didn't last. At the age of 8, Carson's parents decided to get a divorce. Left with two growing children, Carson's mom had no choice but to work up to three jobs at a time to support her family.

Ben's school career was also going downhill at this time. Ben was being teased on a daily basis because he wasn't very smart. In fact, he rarely got more than one question right on quizzes and was called a "dummy." Carson lashed out at everyone and got himself into trouble by having an outrageous temper. His mother noticed what was happening and decided that her boy needed some help. Carson's mother limited the boys playtime; she took away their T.V. privileges and they couldn't go outside to play unless their homework was done. But Carson's mom didn't stop there. She made the boys go to the library to read a couple of books a week and do a written report. Ben's hard work paid off, within a few weeks he was doing much better on quizzes and started knowing facts that the other kids never knew. That was when Carson knew he was smart and that he could do anything.

Carson worked hard throughout high school and graduated at the top of his class. After high school he attended Yale and got a Psychology degree. He thought he was interested in becoming a psychiatrist because of his bad tempers, but then went down a different road. Carson went to the University of Michigan for medical school. He worked many years to become a pediatric neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Since 1984, Carson has become a hero to many people by operating on traumatic brain injuries, brain and spinal injuries, and ultimately saving lives. In 1987 he was the first doctor to successfully separate Siamese twins who were attached by the back of the head. It was a 22 hour sugary and to this day the twins are able to function and live on their own. Carson has also been the first to perform many difficult procedures such as a hemispherectomy; which is when an infant is suffering from severe seizures and undergoes a procedure that removes half of the brain. This stops the seizures and the child can function normally because the brain compensates for the missing half.

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Ben Carson is my hero because he is living proof of the saying that anything is possible. He is heroic because he saves people's lives on a daily basis. Carson has written over 90 neurosurgical publications and several books. He has also received 24 honorary degrees. Ben Carson helps people because that's what he enjoys. This is special to me because I also have neurological problems, and it is comforting to know that there are people out there that can make a difference for such a complicated problem. Ben Carson is a hero in my eyes. Carson once said, "There is no such thing as an average human being, if you have a normal brain, you are superior." That quote is not only inspiring but it's comforting and encouraging.