[...]... between us At one point Candy said, Ben, why are you always so nice to me? Like tonight I did go to sleep when I probably should have stayed awake and talked to you.” “Well, I'm just a nice guy.” “It's more than that, Ben. ” “Oh, I like being nice to second-year Yale students.” Ben Be serious.” The first brush of violet painted the horizon I looked straight ahead, both hands on the wheel Something unfamiliar... laughingly told me that I had been so good at the game that afterward they named several plays Carson shots.” During my studies at medical school and the years afterward I realized the value of this skill For me it is the most significant talent God has given me and the reason people sometimes say I have gifted hands After my first year in med school, I had a summer job as a radiology technician taking... myself “Those guys can do anything.” But the first few times I looked down upon a human brain, or saw human hands working upon that center of intelligence and emotion and motion, working to help heal, I was hooked Then realizing that my hands were steady and that I could intuitively see the effect my hands had on the brain, I knew I had found my calling And so I made the choice that would become my career... this freaking out was going on and I didn't enter in, one of my friends turned to me Carson, aren't you worried?” “No,” I said “I'm going to the University of Michigan Medical School.” “How can you be so sure?” “It's real simple My Father owns the university.” “Did you hear that?” he yelled at one of the others Carson' s old man owns the University of Michigan.” Several students were impressed And... said, “Don't be like that, Ben I'm sorry I fell asleep—I didn't mean to—” I took a deep breath “Everything's fine,” I said and smiled at her through the darkness “Everything can't be fine if we're not moving What's going on? Why are we stopped?” I leaned forward and flipped on the ignition “Oh, just a quick rest,” I said casually, as I began to accelerate and pull onto the road Ben, please—” With a mixture... interstate highways, which makes driving monotonous Candy and I later disagreed on how she answered I thought she said something like, “Don't worry, Ben, I'll keep you awake.” She hadn't had any more sleep than I had She says her words were, “Don't worry, Ben, you'll stay awake.” We started back to Connecticut Back then, the speed limit was 70 miles per hour, but I must have been hitting close to 90... of my career came together then First, my interest in neurosurgery; second, my growing interest in the study of the brain; and third, acceptance of my God-given talent of eye-andhand coordination—my gifted hands that fitted me for this field When I made my choice for neurosurgery, it seemed the most natural thing in the world In medical school during our clinical (or third) year we did rotation work... as an intern on the neurosurgery service and was reaching the point of writing to other schools However, Dr Long called me into his office Ben, ” he said, “you've done an extremely fine job as an intern.” “Thank you,” I answered, pleased to hear those words “Well, Ben, we've noted that you've done extremely well on your rotation on the service All of the attendings [i.e., surgeons] have been quite impressed... concentrating on being ready to die Abruptly the Pinto stopped—in the middle of the lane next to the shoulder—headed in the right direction, the engine still running Hardly aware of what I was doing, my shaking hands slowly turned the wheel and pulled the car off onto the shoulder A heartbeat later an eighteen-wheeler transport came barreling through on that lane I cut off the ignition and sat quietly, trying... meant a terrible adjustment for both of us boys Yet I still have no recollection beyond his initial leaving Maybe that's how I learned to handle my deep hurt—by forgetting We just don't have the money, Bennie.” In the months after Dad left, Curtis and I must have heard that statement a hundred times, and, of course, it was true When we asked for toys or candy, as we'd done before, I soon learned to tell . guy.” “It's more than that, Ben. ” “Oh, I like being nice to second-year Yale students.” Ben. Be serious.” The first brush of violet painted the horizon. I looked straight ahead, both hands on the wheel. Something. Please send your comments about this book to us in care of zreview@zondervan.com. Thank you. Gifted Hands ePub Format Copyright © 1990 by Review and Herald® Publishing Association This title is. Armstrong This edition is published by arrangement with Review and Herald® Publishing Association and Zondervan. Interior design by Beth Shagene This book is dedicated to my mother, SONYA CARSON, who