by Kim Keller

Now this is an amazing story!

Jill Bolte Taylor is a neuroanatomist, which, in everyday language, means she studies the human brain.  Fifteen years ago, while doing research at Harvard, at the shockingly young age of 37, she had a massive stroke.  Terrifying as that might seem to the average person, the experience is entirely different for a neuroanatomist.  In Dr. Taylor’s own words:  “When I realized I was having a stroke, my first reaction was, Wow, this is so cool! How many brain scientists get the opportunity to study their own brains from the inside out?”

In this riveting 9-minute video, Taylor recounts the incredible story of what happened to her on the morning of her stroke, when she lost her ability to communicate, to move and to process the world around her.  It’s an inspiring story of losing all of her cherished cerebral function and then diligently working to get it back, one piece at a time, told with the unique perspective of someone with a thorough understanding of every moment in the process.

By the way, if you enjoy this video, you’ll love her book, also titled My Stroke of Insight.  Karen and I both read it and found it remarkable.  To quote Dr. Taylor, it was just, well, so cool.