Stephen Hawking was born on January 8, 1942, at Oxford, British Commonwealth. Today he celebrated his 70th birthday. He is the most famous theoretical physicist after Einstein.
He has been predicted to die at 1963 because of his rare disease, motor neuron diseases (MNDs). These are a group of neurological disorders that selectively affect motor neurones, the cell that control muscle activity including speaking, walking, breathing, swallowing, and general movement of the body. They can cause progressive disability and death. Stephen Hawking is one of example who can survive fifty years while enduring this disease.
He suffers from Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) which only 5% who suffers from this disease in the world. Most people who suffers from this disease will die one year later after sentenced to suffer that disease. The case of Stephen Hawking is a miracle.
Stephen Hawking who teaches at Cambridge University, UK, said that he was so lucky because his condition continued slower that most common case. This also showed that we must not loose hope.
He said, “I am often asked, ‘how it feels to suffer from ALS?'”. He answered, “I am fine. I try to live as common as possible and not think too much of my disease, or regret because I cannot do things, because in fact I cannot do much things”.
He also added, “Although there is a black cloud covers my future, I actually found something surprising. I better enjoy my life now than before.
In the middle of struggling over his disease, he keeps doing research and invent some important progress of theoretical physics studies.
Despite of his disability, he is an optimist. He also said, “Human being is very stunted compared with the greatness of universe; so that people with disabilities is not a sign of significant cosmic”.
We are as normal people which have no disability should be more optimist to face life!
Happy birthday, Professor Stephen Hawking! You really inspired me!