Stephen Hawking, one of the greatest minds in our history, died on March 14, 2018 at the age of 76. Author of the best-selling A Brief History of Time, Hawking was a brilliant scientist, brilliant enough to be buried at Westminster Abbey! He also happened to have ALS. He is one of the longest survivors of an ALS diagnosis, over 50 years. Why?
Stephen Hawking was diagnosed with ALS in 1962 at the age of 21 and was told he would die within a year.
Hawking could have believed his doctors. He could have stopped living, enjoyed the last year of his life the best he could and then could have died quietly.
Instead Stephen decided to live every moment he had left to the fullest. He decided to get married. He decided to complete his PhD. He decided to have a family and fathered three children. He decided to be as brilliant at his career as he could.
After he got his PhD Hawking continued his life and his career and supported his family, not letting anything get in his way. When he could no longer speak he found a voice box with a computer-generated voice.
He figured out a way to communicate with the only finger he could move and eventually with his head. He continued to learn, read, formulate ideas, and theorize. He wrote papers, and books and gave speeches.
When he had a problem, he found a way to solve it. He and his wife found a way to take the family to Spain on vacation, despite ALS. He found a way to painstakingly write books and papers. He found a way to travel.
People say Stephen Hawking had “a slow progressing” form of ALS or he would not have survived that long. Our question:
Did he have a slow progressing form of ALS or did the way he lived his life cause his ALS to be slow progressing?
Please read or re-read the October 2017 blog on the mental and emotional side of Healing ALS. We have personally met and interviewed over 20 people who have reversed ALS. We know that mental attitude and emotions play a very large role in how fast ALS can be slowed, stopped and reversed. We believe the way Stephen Hawking chose to live his life slowed his ALS disease progression.
Kudos to you Stephen Hawking. You lived a full life, fuller than most totally healthy people.
You didn’t give up. You overcame all obstacles to live the best life you could. You can go to the other side knowing you did your part, you made a positive impact with your life, all after you were diagnosed with ALS. You made a life, you helped your children grow into healthy adults, and you made enough of a contribution to be honored in Westminster Abbey and your ashes buried near Sir Isaac Newton. Wow.