Stephen Hawking is more than deserving of the title of “world’s most famous living scientist”. He has achieved so much, charting new frontiers despite his disabilities and being confined to a wheelchair.
At 68, his health has deteriorated further but it is not stopping him, just as it has never stopped him before. Afflicted with neuro-muscular dystrophy since 21, he is unable to use his fingers and has long lost his ability to speak. He has nurses watching over him 24 hours a day.
He can only communicate using facial gestures including eye blinks. His computerised voice system is controlled by using a blink-activated infrared monitor embedded in his glasses.
There is a barely perceptible movement of his lips but his eyes are incredibly knowing.
It is hard to associate the Hawking in a wheelchair with the young Hawking who loved riding horses and coxed a rowing team when he was studying at Oxford.
“There are many things I want to achieve. If we lose our dreams, we will die,” he said.
“I don’t have much that is positive to say about the motor neurone disease but it has taught me not to pity myself, because others are worse off, and to get on with what I can still do.”
gr8
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