Gifted Hands by Dr. Ben Carson – Flashcards
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
What is the dilemma that Candy Carson describes in the introduction?
answer
The twins need more blood but the hospital has run out.
question
How many members were on the team? Did they practice? Why? 70, yes
answer
70, yes
question
How long was the surgery?
answer
22 hours
question
What problems occurred during the surgery?
answer
• The twins' blood had lost clotting abilities • They bled effusively • The hospital did not have enough blood
question
What is significant about the primary neurosurgeon?
answer
They are in charge of devising a plan for an operation; He was a ghetto kid from the streets of Detroit.
question
What were some of Carson's responses to his daddy's leaving?
answer
He starts crying, says he loves his dad, and asks his mother to forgive his father for his mistakes in order to have his father stay.
question
How did Carson say he handled his hurt?
answer
He forced himself to forget.
question
What kind of attitude did Mrs. Carson present to the boys about their father in order to build an atmosphere of security for them?
answer
Mrs. Carson did not speak badly of her children's' father and told them that they would be fine.
question
To what does Carson attribute his mother's strength?
answer
Her faith in God
question
What famous quotation does Carson connect with his mother?
answer
"All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my mother."
question
What incident does Carson relate to illustrate that his mother had a plan for her boys that would not be altered by the system?
answer
She does not allow the school counselor to place her son, Curtis, in vocational-type curriculum (because of segregation) when he is ready for college-prep classes.
question
Describe Sonya Carson.
answer
She is constantly encouraging her sons to try their best, never give up, never settle for less than you can accomplish, and that all people are equal (whites and blacks). She is disturbed by the divorce emotionally and checks herself into a mental institution for the sake of herself and her family's wellbeing.
question
Describe Carson's father
answer
Carson's father appeared to be a strong Christian, considering he was the minister at a mall Baptist Church. He was a calm speaker and did not have the most lucid diction. He had some materialistic values. Carson looked up to him.
question
Why did Sonya Carson marry Ben's Father?
answer
Ben's father rescued Sonya from a life of poverty and abuse.
question
Where did Mrs. Carson go when she "visited relatives"? How does Carson turn this negative into a positive?
answer
She went to a mental institution. Ben was excited to live in someone else's house, which meant more privileges, such as better food and playing with the neighbors' kids.
question
What concept did Mrs. Carson teach Ben Carson when people were talking about her?
answer
She said she was going to go about her own business and ignore what people said.
question
About what did Carson's mother ask him everyday? What was the effect of her question upon him?
answer
How was school? What did you learn in school today? This showed her emphasis on the importance of education for Curtis and Bennie. She wanted the very best for her sons.
question
What did Carson like about being eight?
answer
When your eight, you don't have any responsibility.
question
What was Carson's favorite Christmas present
answer
Chemistry Set
question
What goal did Carson set at age eight?
answer
He decided he wanted to be a missionary doctor
question
What happened to Carson in the fifth grade to side track him from his goal?
answer
He almost gave in to peers taunting him for being stupid and black.
question
What was the first positive thing that happened to Carson in the fifth grade?
answer
He realized his eyesight was poor and received free glasses.
question
How did Carson's mother encourage him in to improve in school?
answer
She told him he would not play outside until he learned his tables, told them not two watch as much television, and had them read two books a week.
question
What was Mrs. Carson's advice about reading?
answer
Reading will improve one's school and work life.
question
What were Carson's favorite reading topics?
answer
Animals, Science, and Nature
question
What was the "surprising" result of Carson's many trips to the library?
answer
Carson's skills in school improved
question
What is flax?
answer
ingredient in textiles
question
Explain Carson's quotation, "people are people."
answer
everyone is equal
question
Why did Carson not tell his mother about these episodes
answer
She would be worried sick about them
question
What is "capping?"
answer
making fun of/ bullying; Getting the better of another person
question
a buffoon?
answer
a ridiculous but amusing person/ clown
question
5. In essence, what becomes Carson's defense against "capping?"
answer
He gives people a taste of their own medicine, he insults those who cap him
question
7. What happened to Carson's academic career in the ninth grade?
answer
His grades dropped because he wanted to be popular.
question
Who is Mary Thomas?
answer
A woman who introduced Jesus to Sonya Carson.
question
What does Proverbs 16:32 say?
answer
"Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city."
question
7. What profound discovery did Carson make while "meditating" in the bathroom? (pg. 59)
answer
God heard Ben's cries for help. He felt different like he was transformed. God took away his anger and temper, and Ben never had a temper problem again
question
What is Carson's favorite hymn?
answer
"Jesus Is All the World to Me"
question
What hospital caught Carson's attention at age ten? Why?
answer
Johns Hopkins, because he read about it in several newspapers
question
2. What was the special gift Carson received from his brother?
answer
Psychology Today subscription
question
What organization did Carson join
answer
ROTC
question
b) How successful was he in the organization
answer
Carson earned several medals and awards and eventually became one of the three colonels in Detroit.
question
Instead of lecturing, what new subtle ways did Carson's mom use to teach him?
answer
Sonya used famous sayings and poems
question
What did Carson learn from these teachings?
answer
He learned that you can't give excuses for your failure. We only have ourselves to blame. We create our own destiny by the way we do things. We have to take advantage of opportunities and be responsible for our choices
question
What special responsibility did Mr. McCotter give Carson?
answer
Ben was to come up with experiments and labs for the class
question
What advice did Mr. Doaks give Carson?
answer
Education is more important, over music and sports
question
What college offered Carson a full scholarship? Why did he refuse?
answer
West Point; The military career wasn't where he saw himself going. Four years in the military was not going to allow him to go to medical school.
question
What was one of Carson's secrets that helped him to do well on the SAT?
answer
He wanted the General Electric College Bowl, and he learned and studied to be a contestant on the show.He also read 2 books a week
question
What was Carson's dilemma in the first part of the chapter?
answer
The fee to apply for a college was $10, and that was all he had. He could only apply to one college.
question
What was Carson's class ranking?
answer
3rd
question
To what did Carson attribute his ranking?
answer
He had become temporarily distracted with popularity
question
Which university did Carson choose? why?
answer
Yale; Yale beat Harvard in the TV Program "College Bowl"
question
How was Yale a great leveler for Carson?
answer
He was no longer the smartest student in his class
question
What amazing discovery did Carson make about the teaching style at Yale
answer
The teachers assign you homework and you are expected to do it before class. The professor would then hold lectures based on the information you learned.
question
a) What academic problem did Carson face? b) Why?
answer
He was failing freshman chemistry. In the past, he studied for what he wanted to study for. failing chemistry would get him kicked out of the premed program
question
What was the outcome of Carson's problem?
answer
He crammed for the exam, but God helped him pass it with a 97
question
1. What major concept did Carson learn from his job at Ford Motor Company?
answer
Influence could get me inside the door, but my productivity and the quality of my work were the real tests. Just knowing a lot of information, while helpful, wasn't enough either.
question
According to Carson, what is creativity?
answer
Learning to do something with a different perspective
question
3. How was Carson able to find a summer job even though jobs were scarce?
answer
He acted creatively and boldly
question
What are the two morals to Carson's stories about acquiring ten dollars?
answer
• God answers the prayers of those in need • Always be honest, it will be at your benefit and you may be rewarded for your honesty
question
What characteristic of the church members does Candy Rustin say was instrumental in her conversion?
answer
They treated her with kindness/love
question
What was Carson's narrow escape from death?
answer
He fell asleep while driving a car and almost caused a car crash
question
What gifts did Carson realize from his summer job as a crane operator?
answer
Eye-hand coordination, understanding physical relationships, thinking in three dimensions
question
What is the story behind the phrase, "gifted hands?"
answer
Carson quickly adapted to the game of foosball, in which hand-eye coordination is a key factor in being successful in the game, his friend pointed out his quick adaptation to the game.
question
What was involved in Carson's plan of in depth learning?
answer
He studied the material in textbooks and other classmates' notes
question
What techniques did Carson develop as an intern?
answer
Finding the foreman ovale, *
question
What kind of medical student was Carson?
answer
He was good at neurosurgery, which angered several whites
question
Where did Carson do his internship?
answer
Johns Hopkins
question
What knowledge aside from his medical knowledge helped him acquire the internship?
answer
His knowledge in the area of classical music
question
What concept did Carson say he learned from the experience, and what scripture did he quote?
answer
Romans 8:28- No knowledge is wasted
question
What attitude does Carson say a person needs to be successful in a career?
answer
"Confidence in oneself and one's abilities"
question
What concept had Carson learned from his mother that he has put into practice?
answer
Confidence
question
How does this action help with his medical career?
answer
He had the confidence to take on cases that no other doctors would
question
What was Dr. Long's reaction when people were prejudiced against Carson?
answer
He told them that if they stayed, Ben would work on them. Otherwise, they were asked to leave.
question
What advice does Carson give people who are in disadvantageous circumstances?
answer
Stand on their own feet instead of looking for others to save them, do their best
question
How did Carson handle the Georgian, Tommy, who criticized many of his actions and procedures
answer
He reacted calmly and did not let the comments bother him
question
What early wish did Carson receive?
answer
To skip a second year of general surgery
question
What is an MRI?
answer
(Magnetic Resonance Imaging) It is a machine that excited protons, the computer gathers signals from the protons and makes an image.
question
) What is a Cat Scan?
answer
A machine that lets X-Ray beams focus on an object at different levels.
question
What worried Carson about going to Australia?
answer
Apartheid
question
Why did Carson go to Australia?
answer
The whites-only policy was abolished
question
. How did the Carson family make friends easily in Australia?
answer
Through the church
question
. What did Candy Carson do with her talents in Australia?
answer
She performed with the Needlands Symphony Orchestra and sang in a professional group.
question
What is an aneurysm?
answer
An excessive localized enlargement of an artery caused by the weakening of the artery wall.
question
What position did Carson receive at age thirty-three?
answer
Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery
question
Why is malpractice insurance low in Australia?
answer
Malpractice cases rarely arise in Australia because Australian law forbids lawyers to take malpractice cases on a contingency basis.
question
What is a hemispherectomy?
answer
A procedure in which one hemisphere of the brain is removed.
question
What is Dr. Carson's homework assignment that he gives to all of his patients and their families? (p. 144)
answer
pray to god
question
Was Maranda's hemispherectomy successful?
answer
Yes
question
What were two concepts clear to Carson before the surgery?
answer
The results were in God's hands and if he didn't operate, Maranda would only get worse
question
Why did Carson refuse to appear on television shows?
answer
He did not want to be known as a show-business personality or a celebrity doctor.. He did not want to become cocky or overly-confident. He had also not yet taken his oral examination. Carson did not want to stir up jealousy.
question
What did Carson tell himself to help him overcome the depression caused by Jennifer's death?
answer
His other patients needed help and he would not be a help to them if he were depressed
question
For what did the controversy over Denise prepare Carson?
answer
The steps ahead (further controversy in future operations)
question
What two negative side effects do hemispherectomies have?
answer
Limited peripheral vision on one side and a slight limp
question
Danielle's surgery seemed to be successful, but why did her conditions worsen?
answer
They operated to late
question
1. What did Susan quote to Carson that he had quoted to her?
answer
"Bennie, if you ask the Lord for something, believing He will do it, then, He will do it."
question
2. What was Craig's response to Carson when the doctor said all was in God's hands?
answer
"We believe you let God use your hands"
question
What does the following statement reveal about Carson? "Craig will die unless You show me what to do."
answer
He is not completely confident in all of his work, he does not think he is perfect
question
What did Susan see in the demeanor of Dr. Carson that she had not seen before?
answer
He was defeated and sad.
question
What thought brought Susan out of her anger?
answer
She realized that Craig was not hers, but God's
question
What biblical parallel does Susan make?
answer
Abraham and Isaac
question
What was extraordinary about the operation to separate the Siamese twins?
answer
It had never been done successfully before, it was connected at the head
question
What was Carson's response to the reporter's question about whether the twins could have a normal life?
answer
He said that the results were in God's hands
question
Why were the twins put into barbiturate comas?
answer
Keeping the pressures in the brain down in order to lessen the swelling
question
What special privilege did Carson have as a father?
answer
He delivered his second child
question
What decisions did Carson make concerning his time?
answer
He decided to come home around 7-8 every night
question
What is Carson's unfulfilled dream?
answer
To start a national scholarship fund set that awards scholarships based on pure talent
question
How does Carson say people develop their minds?
answer
Reading, thinking, and figuring out things for themselves.
question
What is in-depth learning?
answer
Acquiring knowledge that becomes part of a person
question
What does Carson say about young people and goal-setting?
answer
"If you can remember these things, if you can learn to THINK BIG, nothing on earth will keep you from being successful in whatever you choose to do."
question
How does a student become a member of the Ben Carson Club?
answer
Students must agree to watch no more than three television programs each week, and they will read at least two books.
question
What outstanding quality does a successful person have according to Carson?
answer
They are determined that nothing will stop them from going forward.
question
How long did the seventy- member team study for the operation?
answer
Five months
question
What disaster happened to Carson two weeks before the team was scheduled to go to Germany?
answer
His passport was stolen during a robbery
question
6. What miracle happened concerning Carson's passport?
answer
A detective found Carson's passport while going through some garbage.
question
How extensive were the dress rehearsals for the surgery?
answer
• Each dress rehearsal was three hours long, there were five dress rehearsals • The team worked out where each member would stand on the operating room floor • A 10 page play-by-play book detailed each step of the operation • Velcro life sized dolls attached at the head were used at rehearsals
