The Theory of Everything- Neuro Note #5

Marsh, J. (2014). The Theory of everything. United States: Universal Pictures.

So this movie is about the late Stephen Hawking. It has its ups and downs. It starts off with him as a student at the University of Cambridge. He meets this woman that will soon become his wife, Jane Wilde. It ends years later after he meet the queen of England with his ex-wife and kids. Shortly after meeting Jane at the age of 21 he gets diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This disease effects your motor neurons that control voluntary muscle movements. Stephen asked the doctors how his body would change and his doctor made it clear that his muscles would deteriorate but that his mind will stay the same. He also was told that he would only live about 2 more years.... Wow, two more years to live at the age of 21... Yep I cried. All wasn't lost for Stephen though, after some time I suppose he came to peace with this diagnosis and he kept working on his physicist work about "the theory of everything", the beginning of time, the theory of how everything was created. Spoiler, Stephen become a very famous physicist and lived much longer than the 2 years he was given. Screw time huh Stephen.

There was a specific moment in the movie that made me think, "Yep I want to help someone have that moment right there." It was after his second child was born. Jane had Stephen's arms up on a table in the shape of a circle and she laid his daughter in his arms. That was how he had to hold his child. Broke my heart but also made me feel warm and fuzzy on the inside. To help someone hold their newborn child, yea that seems pretty rewarding.

There was another moment, when Elaine walked in and blew him away. She had a letter board that was supposed to help Stephen communicate since he could no longer talk. She memorized where all the letters were located on the board and Stephen was able to communicate with her without having to use the board, he could just move his eyes around. She also didn't treat him as a victim which I'm sure was a welcomed feeling for Stephen. Everyone around him seemed to treat him as if he was made of glass since his diagnosis and beating the 2 year time limit he was given. This is something I think OTs and other health care providers should remember. Their client/patient was someone before their diagnosis and want to be treated the same as before. Always remember to look past the diagnosis and see the person you're caring for. Should we call that "The Theory of Caregiving"??