Member-only story
a stroke of insight
The title of this essay is inspired by a Ted Talk by Jill Bolte Taylor. She is a neuroanatomist, specializing in the study of severe mental illness.
There are a number of typos and mistakes throughout this essay which I’ve left intentionally. You’ll understand why.
my girlfriend held me. i had to let myself cry. sob actually.
every few weeks or so, i work as a standardized patient for students in the medical program at duke university in durham, nc. i’ve had friends who’ve done this work which peaked my interest. and since moving to nc, i’ve become much more aware of the remarkable kind of education ajd research that duke does. ihad a nephew who had bravely lived his life with sickle cell. the year before laast he went through a pioneering new study at duke as one of only a few in the pilot program. as a result, he is now healed. h e a l e d. of sickle cell! for the first time in this incredibly dear young man’s existence he gets to live a normal healthy life like the rest of us. duke also stepped up and cared for this same nephew when several months ago he was in a terrible car acident and broke both femurs, several ribs and his jaw.
as far as sports go, i pull for carolina, but I pray and give thanks for duke.
when ibegan to think about how i would like to perhaps use my acting to find ways to give back, i…