L'Chaim: the singular life of Oliver Sacks

I spent only 2 hours with Oliver Sacks, in February 2011. It was his home on Horatio Street the West Village of New York City. had written to him, as a Columbia colleague, about sleep disturbance that gaining hegemony my life. My nocturnal dream world, 3 years running, become other worldly, uncannily alive and exhausting; “case” defied accomplished academic neurologists well three studies overnight EEGs. turned one neurologist who surely thought out box. Sacks promptly agreed see me. first 15 minutes were devoted performing neurological examination, complete classic Queen Square reflex hammer. He pronounced did not have Parkinson's disease, at times heralded by disturbances. still two-page, typed summary, done next day. Some months later, surprise, he sent handwritten letter, congratulating me for an award receive expressing regret could attend because disabled leg. The remaining 105 exploration into me, brain, mind, humbling limits science. PBS has produced radiant documentary, directed Ric Burns, shows how embodies what Sir William Osler said, over century ago: “It is good physician treats disease. great patient disease.” No wonder so beloved. Through this film's lens, we viewers are witness ever-unfolding sweep life: Jewish boy London, UK, family towering intelligence who, six, befriended numbers periodic table; that, like many, shamefully tried hide Michael, older son, developed schizophrenia; kvelled Sacks' precocious intellect until told them gay, after gone off Oxford. adoring mother (I can testify from experience mothers fabled their pride son) bear hearing response father's inquiry if “interest boys”? called him “abomination”, second her lost circumscribed view Recall, says later film, Alan Turing, pioneer computer science artificial whose analytic brilliance repeatedly defeated Nazis during war, saving many lives, “chemically castrated” 1952 being gay man. Turing ended life cyanide. This but chapter, its poignantly portrayed detail, characterises Sacks: His Own Life. film stays true, well, mightily candid and, course, artfully autobiography, On Move (2015). left London medical school San Francisco, CA, USA. That moment marked volcanic eruption inner turmoil, which continued boil UCLA City California “awakenings” (pun intended). fueled himself abundance amphetamines embellished utterly unconventional non-stop (except gas), 36-hour motorcycle rides serious weight lifting (he set State record 600 pounds squat), describes effort feel more self-confident (it effective). story far than word limit permits. Suffice say travel “fails” research neuroscientist enters clinical care, true métier. doctor, publishes book, Migraine (1970), then Awakenings (1973), working post-encephalitic patients experiencing catatonia ceaseless movements, Ward 23 Beth Abraham Hospital, Bronx, NY, Both books disdained influential scientists, away becoming commercially successful. all changed, retrospect, point initial failure further tore self-abnegating mind. takes hat psychoanalyst half century, helped give up make better, less self-destructive life; “after 50 years,” teased analyst, “I think making some progress”. What eluded trustworthy, loving relationships. attachments need blossoms love others. changed principally two people, prominent documentary narratives portrayal Kate Edgar Bill (Billy) Hayes. Kate, Olivia Bruce, wrote forthcoming Bless them. Billy greatly mutative forces leaving lonely chrysalis finding wonder. had, result, capacity even enrich our world humanity gifts, figure us seek emulate. And, 2015, face death grace when metastatic cancer announced imminent demise. Jews toast, L'Chaim, To Life, offers those deeply close be bereaved him—and well—as earth beautiful testimonial draw close. Constant motionBut extraordinary gifts clinician writer, been disaster. Full-Text PDF