The Diving Bell and the Butterfly tells the story of a high-powered business man, vibrant and active in the fashion and publication field, who had a stroke and is rendered helpless and unable to communicate. The only part of his body he learns to control is a single eye - he can blink only one eye. Of course, the story is inspiring -- he doesn't give up -- but we have heard that story before. There are other parts of the movie that inspired me beyond the standard tear-jerker. I need to talk about those.
Jean-Dominique Bauby, known affectionately as Jean-Do, was the editor of Elle magazine when he had a stroke and awoke in a rehab hospital unable to move, unable to talk, totally dependent on his medical caregivers for his every need, yet unable to tell them what he needs. However, he is fully bonscious and understands what is happening because the medical staff talks to him as if he can. He is able to learn to communicate, using his one blinkable eye.
technorati tags: disability, caring, disabled, language, qualityoflife, goals, movies, stroke, communication
