Image via WikipediaIn honor of Black History month, I am proud to feature Dr. Ben Carson, Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at John Hopkins Hospital and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award, given to him by President George W Bush in 2008.Ben Carson's life story reads like a fairytale, a black male Cinderella, whisked from the ashes of poverty in Detroit, Michigan, to the hallowed halls of Yale University, where he earned a degree in Psychology, then on to the University of Michigan Medical School where he studied Neurosurgery. However, he did not have a fairy godmother but his own dogged determination to become not just a doctor but an "authority".
Dr. Ben Carson is regarded in medical circles as a miracle worker/living legend/surgeon extraordinaire, but he attributes his amazing successes to hard work and God. Dr. Carson always makes it a habit to pray before every surgery and to give thanks to God for the successful outcome.
In 1987 Dr. Carson made medical history when he became the first surgeon in the world to successfully separate twins (the Binder twins) who were joined at the back of the head. For this feat he spearheaded a surgical team of 70 members in an operation that lasted 22 hours. Other notable achievements include performing the first intrauterine procedure to relieve pressure on the brain of a hydrocephalic fetal twin, and a hemispherical, in which he removed half of the brain of a young girl suffering from severe seizures.
Despite his busy career, Ben Carson
took time off to marry Candy Rustin, a Yale graduate and accomplished musician. The couple has three sons. They have also founded the Carson Scholars Fund for students in grades 4-11 who maintain a 3.75 GPA. Dr. Carson has achieved many prestigious honors and awards and sits on the boards of many companies, including Kelloggs.In looking at the life of this great African American, one might wonder what set him apart. He was born to a mother who couldn't even read and grew up in poverty in a broken home. In his early years he was considered one of the dumbest kids in school, but according to Dr. Carson, he held on to his dream of becoming a doctor. "There is no such thing as an average human being. If you have a normal brain, you are superior." As a doctor in his early years, he experienced racism, but that didn't deter him. He maintained his humility because he believes "you can never get too big for God."
Do you have a dream? The Bible says, For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak , and not lie : though it tarry , wait for it; because it will surely come , it will not tarry" (Habakkuk 2:3) . So, hold on to your dream and don't give up, " for with God nothing shall be impossible " (Luke 1: 37).
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