Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story

(Here's the cover of a DVD we got from Hollywood Video. It had life-changing messages!)



As I write this post, my eyes are still swollen from crying over a movie I just watched.

It's Gifted Hands, the story of Dr. Ben Carson, a world reknowned neurosurgeon. If you like inspirational movies, this one will blow your socks off. If you want to inspire a young person or show the extreme influence of a mother on her child, this movie is the one you want. It is not to be missed.

From an impoverished background, young Ben Carson was called a "dummy" in school by his peers. The Carson family lived in Detroit, Michigan. His mother was a poor, single parent who cleaned houses and babysat to support Ben and his brother. She was ashamed that she couldn't read but she built fires of determination and belief in her sons. She let them know they could do anything they set their minds to.

She saved money in a cookie jar and bought Ben glasses so he could see better in the classroom. She restricted television for her sons and required them to spend time in the library, writing two book reports each week which they had to read outloud to her.

Ben Carson began to use his vivid imagination and decided he wanted to become a doctor. His childhood dream became reality. Through hard work and sheer determination, Ben began to excel academically and got accepted into Yale. He earned his Doctorate and eventually became director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Children's Center where he also is a professor of oncology and plastic surgery.

Eventually he married. There's a scene in the movie when he and his wife lost their own twins during his wife's pregnancy. It's heartbreaking so be sure to have tissues nearby when you watch this movie.

Dr. Carson has skillfully separated several sets of Siamese twin babies, joined at their heads. The surgeries can be more than 22 hours long and require the surgeons performing them to have incredible strength and stamina.

Dr. Carson has more than 50 honorary doctor degrees and has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He also is a best selling author and wrote a book by the same title as the movie, Gifted Hands.

Actor Cuba Gooding, Jr. plays Dr. Carson in the movie and does an immensely convincing and stellar job. The influential mother is played with finesse and talent by Kimberly Elise.

It's great to see a movie that touches the heart, inspires, uplifts, and makes one cry and laugh! Gifted Hands does all of these.