Meaghan BuckleyMeaghan's Voice: A Young Woman with Autism Speaks OutI have listened enough. It is time for me to speak. I have a lot to teach the world about autism. I think that there is a lot of...
Gail BuckleyWhen I began a diet a week before my stroke, I never dreamed of such a dramatic result “When I began a diet a week before my stroke, I never dreamed of such a dramatic result.” - Jean-Dominique Bauby Jean-Dominique Bauby...
Gail BuckleyToday it seems to me that my whole life was nothing but a string of those small near misses“Today it seems to me that my whole life was nothing but a string of those small near misses: a race whose result we know beforehand but...
Gail BuckleySylvie and I remain alone and silent, her hand squeezing my inert fingers“Wind begins to whip up the sand. The tide has gone out so far that swimmers look like tiny dots on the horizon. The children run to...
Gail BuckleyToday is Father's Day. Until my stroke, we had felt no need to fit this made-up holiday...“Today is Father's Day. Until my stroke, we had felt no need to fit this made-up holiday into our emotional calendar. But today we spend...
Gail BuckleyI need to feel strongly, to love and to admire, just as desperately as I need to breathe“I need to feel strongly, to love and to admire, just as desperately as I need to breathe. A letter from a friend, a Balthus painting on...
Gail BuckleyMysterious paradox: time, motionless here, gallops out there...“Mysterious paradox: time, motionless here, gallops out there. In my contracted world, the hours drag on but the months flash by.” -...
Gail BuckleyMy diving bell becomes less oppressive, and my mind takes flight like a butterfly...“My diving bell becomes less oppressive, and my mind takes flight like a butterfly. There is so much to do. You can wander off in space...
Gail BuckleyBut for now, I would be the happiest of men if I could just swallow...“But for now, I would be the happiest of men if I could just swallow the overflow of saliva that endlessly floods my mouth. Even before...
Gail BuckleyUnder the physical therapist’s gaze, I am a Tour de France long shot“Under the physical therapist’s gaze, I am a Tour de France long shot on the verge of pulling off a record-setting victory. Success...
Gail BuckleyOnce, I was a master at recycling leftovers. Now I cultivate the art of simmering memories“Once, I was a master at recycling leftovers. Now I cultivate the art of simmering memories.” - Jean-Dominique Bauby Jean-Dominique Bauby...
Gail BuckleyFar from such din, when blessed silence returns...“Far from such din, when blessed silence returns, I can listen to the butterflies that flutter inside my head. To hear them, one must be...
Gail BuckleyI am fading away. Slowly but surely. “I am fading away. Slowly but surely. Like the sailor who watches his home shore gradually disappear, I watch my past recede. My old life...
Gail BuckleyNot only was I exiled, paralyzed, mute, deaf, deprived of all pleasures and reduced to the existence“Whereupon a strange euphoria came over me. Not only was I exiled, paralyzed, mute, half deaf, deprived of all pleasures, and reduced to...
Gail BuckleyIn the past it was known as a 'massive stroke' and you simply died.In the past it was known as a 'massive stroke' and you simply died. But improved resuscitation techniques have now prolonged and refined...