[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:08.75,0:00:10.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm thrilled to be here today.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:10.74,0:00:12.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm actually going to share\Nsomething with you
Dialogue: 0,0:00:12.93,0:00:15.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I haven't talked about\Nprobably in more than 10 years.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.85,0:00:18.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So bear with me as I take you\Nthrough this journey.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.52,0:00:20.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I was 22 years old,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:21.02,0:00:24.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I came home from work,\Nput a leash on my dog
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.55,0:00:26.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and went for my usual run.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:27.25,0:00:28.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had no idea that at that moment,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:28.96,0:00:30.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,my life was going to change forever.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:31.58,0:00:34.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,While I was preparing my dog for the run,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:35.12,0:00:38.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a man was finishing drinking at a bar,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.30,0:00:40.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,picked up his car keys, got into a car
Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.66,0:00:42.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and headed south,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.22,0:00:43.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or wherever he was.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:45.18,0:00:46.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was running across the street,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.75,0:00:48.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the only thing\Nthat I actually remember
Dialogue: 0,0:00:48.95,0:00:51.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is feeling like a grenade\Nwent off in my head.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.12,0:00:55.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I remember\Nputting my hands on the ground
Dialogue: 0,0:00:55.82,0:00:57.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and feeling my life's blood
Dialogue: 0,0:00:57.71,0:01:01.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,emptying out of my neck and my mouth.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:03.12,0:01:05.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What had happened is, he ran a red light
Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.32,0:01:06.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and hit me and my dog.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:07.46,0:01:09.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She ended up underneath the car.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:10.80,0:01:12.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I flew out in front of the car,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.38,0:01:14.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then he ran over my legs.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:14.60,0:01:16.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My left leg got caught up\Nin the wheel well --
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.84,0:01:18.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,spun it around.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:21.09,0:01:23.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The bumper of the car hit my throat,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.18,0:01:24.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,slicing it open.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:25.62,0:01:27.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I ended up with blunt chest trauma.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:28.25,0:01:32.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Your aorta comes up behind your heart,\Nit's your major artery --
Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.26,0:01:37.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it was severed, so my blood\Nwas gurgling out of my mouth.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.13,0:01:40.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It foamed, and ... horrible things\Nwere happening to me.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.10,0:01:44.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had no idea what was going on,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.82,0:01:46.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but strangers intervened,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:47.80,0:01:49.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,kept my heart moving, beating.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.40,0:01:52.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I say "moving," because it was quivering,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.71,0:01:55.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they were trying to put\Na beat back into it.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.71,0:01:58.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Somebody was smart\Nand put a Bic pen in my neck
Dialogue: 0,0:01:58.70,0:02:02.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to open up my airway,\Nso I could get some air in there.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.05,0:02:03.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And my lung collapsed,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:03.40,0:02:06.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so somebody cut me open\Nand put a pen in there as well,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.40,0:02:12.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to stop that catastrophic\Nevent from happening.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.50,0:02:15.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Somehow I ended up at the hospital.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.72,0:02:16.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was wrapped in ice,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.00,0:02:20.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then eventually put\Ninto a drug-induced coma.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:22.07,0:02:24.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Eighteen months later, I woke up.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.51,0:02:27.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was blind, I couldn't speak
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.40,0:02:29.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I couldn't walk.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.31,0:02:31.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was 64 pounds.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.18,0:02:39.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The hospital really has no idea\Nwhat to do with people like that.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.20,0:02:41.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And in fact, they started\Nto call me a "gomer."
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.40,0:02:44.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's another story\Nwe won't even get into.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.33,0:02:49.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had so many surgeries\Nto put my neck back together,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:49.69,0:02:51.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to repair my heart a few times.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.40,0:02:53.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some things worked, some things didn't.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.94,0:02:55.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had lots of titanium put in me;
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.86,0:02:57.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,cadaver bones,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.29,0:03:00.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to try to get my feet\Nmoving the right way.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:00.57,0:03:02.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I ended up with a plastic nose,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.32,0:03:04.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,porcelain teeth\Nand all kinds of other things.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.53,0:03:06.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But eventually,\NI started to look human again.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.68,0:03:10.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But ...
Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.74,0:03:15.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's hard sometimes\Nto talk about these things,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.01,0:03:17.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so bear with me.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.19,0:03:20.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had more than 50 surgeries.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.60,0:03:22.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But who's counting?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.22,0:03:24.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.03,0:03:27.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So eventually, the hospital decided\Nit was time for me to go.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.30,0:03:30.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They needed to open up\Nspace for somebody else
Dialogue: 0,0:03:30.16,0:03:33.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that they thought could come back
Dialogue: 0,0:03:33.40,0:03:36.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from whatever they were going through.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:36.40,0:03:39.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Everybody lost faith in me\Nbeing able to recover.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:39.80,0:03:42.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So they basically put a map\Nup on the wall, threw a dart,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.86,0:03:45.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it landed at a senior home,\Nhere in Colorado.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.40,0:03:49.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I know all of you\Nare scratching your head:
Dialogue: 0,0:03:49.66,0:03:50.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"A senior citizens' home?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:50.91,0:03:53.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What in the world\Nare you going to do there?"
Dialogue: 0,0:03:53.07,0:03:55.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But if you think about\Nall of the skills and talent
Dialogue: 0,0:03:55.52,0:03:58.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that are in this room right now,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:58.10,0:04:00.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's what a senior home has.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.16,0:04:02.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So there were all these skills and talents
Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.24,0:04:03.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that these seniors had.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:04.20,0:04:07.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The one advantage\Nthey had over most of you
Dialogue: 0,0:04:07.09,0:04:08.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is wisdom,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.26,0:04:10.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because they had a long life.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:11.01,0:04:13.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I needed that wisdom\Nat that moment in my life.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:14.26,0:04:16.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But imagine what it was like for them
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.08,0:04:17.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when I showed up at their doorstep.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:18.92,0:04:22.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At that point, I had gained\Nfour pounds, so I was 68 pounds.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:22.90,0:04:24.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was bald.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:24.78,0:04:26.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was wearing hospital scrubs.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.81,0:04:29.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And somebody donated tennis shoes for me.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.10,0:04:32.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I had a white cane in one hand
Dialogue: 0,0:04:32.69,0:04:35.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and a suitcase full of medical\Nrecords in another hand.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:36.08,0:04:38.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the senior citizens realized
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.30,0:04:40.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that they needed to have\Nan emergency meeting.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:40.61,0:04:42.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.40,0:04:45.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So they pulled back\Nand they were looking at each other,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:45.40,0:04:49.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they were going, "OK,\Nwhat skills do we have in this room?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:49.50,0:04:51.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This kid needs a lot of work."
Dialogue: 0,0:04:52.17,0:04:56.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So they eventually started\Nmatching their talents and skills
Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.00,0:04:58.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to all of my needs.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:58.92,0:05:01.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But one of the first things\Nthey needed to do
Dialogue: 0,0:05:01.10,0:05:03.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was assess what I needed right away.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:03.30,0:05:06.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I needed to figure out how to eat\Nlike a normal human being,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:06.46,0:05:09.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,since I'd been eating\Nthrough a tube in my chest
Dialogue: 0,0:05:09.83,0:05:11.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and through my veins.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:11.40,0:05:14.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I had to go\Nthrough trying to eat again.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:14.63,0:05:16.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they went through that process.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:16.81,0:05:18.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then they had to figure out:
Dialogue: 0,0:05:18.40,0:05:20.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Well, she needs furniture.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:20.18,0:05:23.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She is sleeping in the corner\Nof this apartment."
Dialogue: 0,0:05:23.28,0:05:25.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So they went to their storage lockers
Dialogue: 0,0:05:25.40,0:05:27.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and all gathered their extra furniture --
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.40,0:05:29.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,gave me pots and pans, blankets --
Dialogue: 0,0:05:30.94,0:05:32.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,everything.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:33.22,0:05:36.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then the next thing that I needed
Dialogue: 0,0:05:36.72,0:05:37.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was a makeover.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.20,0:05:39.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:05:39.37,0:05:40.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So out went the green scrubs,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:40.95,0:05:43.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and in came the polyester\Nand floral prints.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:43.84,0:05:48.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:05:48.15,0:05:50.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We're not going to talk\Nabout the hairstyles
Dialogue: 0,0:05:50.29,0:05:53.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they tried to force on me\Nonce my hair grew back.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:53.90,0:05:55.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I did say no to the blue hair.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:55.66,0:05:57.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:05:59.22,0:06:02.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So eventually, what went on is,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:02.92,0:06:05.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they decided that, well,\NI need to learn to speak.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:05.82,0:06:07.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can't be an independent person
Dialogue: 0,0:06:07.65,0:06:10.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if you're not able to speak\Nand you can't see.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:10.40,0:06:13.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So they figured not being able\Nto see is one thing,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:13.34,0:06:14.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but they need to get me to talk.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:15.40,0:06:18.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So while Sally, the office manager,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:18.40,0:06:20.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was teaching me to speak in the day --
Dialogue: 0,0:06:20.32,0:06:24.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's hard, because when you're a kid,\Nyou take things for granted.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:24.47,0:06:26.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You learn things unconsciously.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:26.19,0:06:29.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But for me, I was an adult\Nand it was embarrassing,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:29.68,0:06:33.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I had to learn how to coordinate\Nmy new throat with my tongue
Dialogue: 0,0:06:33.61,0:06:36.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and my new teeth and my lips,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:36.40,0:06:38.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and capture the air and get the word out.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:38.90,0:06:40.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, I acted like a two-year-old,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:40.75,0:06:42.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and refused to work.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.05,0:06:46.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the men had a better idea.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:46.56,0:06:48.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They were going to make it fun for me.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:48.91,0:06:52.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So they were teaching me\Ncuss-word Scrabble at night.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:52.71,0:06:55.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:06:57.01,0:07:00.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then, secretly,\Nhow to swear like a sailor.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:00.67,0:07:01.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:07:01.70,0:07:05.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm going to just leave it\Nto your imagination
Dialogue: 0,0:07:05.54,0:07:08.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as to what my first words were --
Dialogue: 0,0:07:08.08,0:07:09.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:07:09.09,0:07:12.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when Sally finally got\Nmy confidence built.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:12.09,0:07:14.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:07:14.30,0:07:16.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I moved on from there.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:16.33,0:07:19.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And a former teacher\Nwho happened to have Alzheimer's
Dialogue: 0,0:07:19.53,0:07:21.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,took on the task of teaching me to write.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:23.26,0:07:25.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The redundancy was actually good for me.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:25.60,0:07:27.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, we'll just keep moving on.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:27.40,0:07:31.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:07:34.27,0:07:36.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One of the pivotal times for me
Dialogue: 0,0:07:36.49,0:07:39.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was actually learning\Nto cross the street again
Dialogue: 0,0:07:39.18,0:07:40.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as a blind person.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:41.90,0:07:43.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So close your eyes.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:44.16,0:07:47.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now imagine you have to cross a street.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:47.08,0:07:49.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You don't know how far that street is,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:50.76,0:07:53.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you don't know\Nif you're going straight.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:53.40,0:07:55.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And you hear cars whizzing back and forth,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:56.81,0:07:58.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you had a horrible accident
Dialogue: 0,0:07:58.40,0:08:00.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that landed you in this situation.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:01.19,0:08:03.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So there were two obstacles\NI had to get through.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:04.40,0:08:07.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One was post-traumatic stress disorder.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:07.83,0:08:11.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Every time I approached\Nthe corner or the curb,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:11.62,0:08:12.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I would panic.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:12.93,0:08:14.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the second one
Dialogue: 0,0:08:14.75,0:08:17.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was actually trying to figure out\Nhow to cross that street.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:18.40,0:08:21.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So one of the seniors just came up to me,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:21.31,0:08:24.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and she pushed me\Nup to the corner and said,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:24.67,0:08:27.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"When you think it's time to go,\Njust stick the cane out there.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:27.68,0:08:29.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If it's hit, don't cross the street."
Dialogue: 0,0:08:29.54,0:08:35.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:08:35.05,0:08:36.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Made perfect sense.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:36.50,0:08:37.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:08:37.66,0:08:41.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But by the third cane\Nthat went whizzing across the road --
Dialogue: 0,0:08:41.28,0:08:42.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:08:42.65,0:08:45.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they realized that they needed\Nto put their resources together,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:45.73,0:08:47.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they raised funds
Dialogue: 0,0:08:47.23,0:08:49.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so that I could go\Nto the Braille Institute
Dialogue: 0,0:08:49.34,0:08:53.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and actually gain the skills\Nto be a blind person,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:53.96,0:08:55.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and also to go get a guide dog,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:55.98,0:08:57.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who transformed my life.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:57.86,0:08:59.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I was able to return to college
Dialogue: 0,0:08:59.65,0:09:03.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because of the senior citizens\Nwho invested in me,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:03.40,0:09:06.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and also the guide dog\Nand skill set I had gained.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:07.40,0:09:09.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ten years later, I gained my sight back.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:09.69,0:09:11.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Not magically --
Dialogue: 0,0:09:11.76,0:09:14.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I opted in for three surgeries,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:14.76,0:09:16.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and one of them was experimental.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:16.65,0:09:18.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was actually robotic surgery
Dialogue: 0,0:09:18.40,0:09:20.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that removed a hematoma\Nfrom behind my eye.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:22.100,0:09:27.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The biggest change for me\Nwas that the world moved forward,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:27.85,0:09:31.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that there were innovations\Nand all kinds of new things --
Dialogue: 0,0:09:31.92,0:09:33.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,cellphones, laptops,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:33.87,0:09:36.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all these things\Nthat I had never seen before.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:36.54,0:09:38.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And as a blind person,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:38.22,0:09:40.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,your visual memory fades,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:40.76,0:09:44.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and is replaced with how you\Nfeel about things
Dialogue: 0,0:09:44.80,0:09:46.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and how things sound
Dialogue: 0,0:09:46.64,0:09:48.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and how things smell.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:49.40,0:09:51.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So one day, I was in my room
Dialogue: 0,0:09:51.91,0:09:53.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I saw this thing sitting in my room.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:54.01,0:09:55.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I thought it was a monster,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:55.40,0:09:57.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so I was walking around it.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:57.54,0:09:59.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I go, "I'm just going to touch it."
Dialogue: 0,0:09:59.56,0:10:00.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I touched it and I went,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:00.97,0:10:03.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Oh my God, it's a laundry basket."
Dialogue: 0,0:10:04.23,0:10:07.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:10:08.12,0:10:12.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Everything is different\Nwhen you're a sighted person,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:12.18,0:10:13.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because you take that for granted.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:13.86,0:10:17.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But when you're blind,\Nyou have the tactile memory for things.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:18.72,0:10:21.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The biggest change for me\Nwas looking down at my hands
Dialogue: 0,0:10:21.29,0:10:24.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and seeing that I'd lost\N10 years of my life.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:25.20,0:10:28.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I thought that time\Nhad stood still for some reason
Dialogue: 0,0:10:28.28,0:10:30.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and moved on for family and friends.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:30.14,0:10:31.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But when I looked down,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:31.65,0:10:34.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I realized that time\Nmarched on for me, too,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:34.24,0:10:35.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that I needed to get caught up.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:35.99,0:10:37.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I got going on it.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:39.07,0:10:42.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We didn't have words like "crowdsourcing"\Nand "radical collaboration"
Dialogue: 0,0:10:43.01,0:10:44.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when I had my accident.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:44.75,0:10:46.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the concept held true --
Dialogue: 0,0:10:46.54,0:10:48.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people working with people to rebuild me;
Dialogue: 0,0:10:48.98,0:10:51.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people working with people\Nto reeducate me.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:51.81,0:10:53.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I wouldn't be standing here today
Dialogue: 0,0:10:53.65,0:10:57.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if it wasn't for extreme\Nradical collaboration.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:57.40,0:10:58.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you so much.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:58.72,0:11:02.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)