[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.84,0:00:03.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm actually going to share\Nsomething with you
Dialogue: 0,0:00:03.03,0:00:05.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I haven't talked about\Nprobably in more than 10 years.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:05.95,0:00:08.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So bear with me as I take you\Nthrough this journey.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:09.62,0:00:11.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I was 22 years old,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:11.12,0:00:14.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I came home from work,\Nput a leash on my dog
Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.65,0:00:16.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and went for my usual run.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.35,0:00:19.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had no idea that at that moment,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.06,0:00:20.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,my life was going to change forever.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:21.68,0:00:24.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,While I was preparing my dog for the run,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.22,0:00:28.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a man was finishing drinking at a bar,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:28.40,0:00:30.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,picked up his car keys, got into a car
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.76,0:00:32.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and headed south,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.32,0:00:33.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or wherever he was.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:35.28,0:00:36.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was running across the street,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.85,0:00:39.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the only thing\Nthat I actually remember
Dialogue: 0,0:00:39.05,0:00:41.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is feeling like a grenade\Nwent off in my head.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.22,0:00:45.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I remember\Nputting my hands on the ground
Dialogue: 0,0:00:45.92,0:00:47.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and feeling my life's blood
Dialogue: 0,0:00:47.81,0:00:51.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,emptying out of my neck and my mouth.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.22,0:00:55.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What had happened is, he ran a red light
Dialogue: 0,0:00:55.42,0:00:56.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and hit me and my dog.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:57.56,0:00:59.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She ended up underneath the car.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.90,0:01:02.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I flew out in front of the car,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.48,0:01:04.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then he ran over my legs.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.70,0:01:06.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My left leg got caught up\Nin the wheel well --
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.94,0:01:08.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,spun it around.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.19,0:01:13.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The bumper of the car hit my throat,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.28,0:01:14.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,slicing it open.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:15.72,0:01:17.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I ended up with blunt chest trauma.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.35,0:01:22.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Your aorta comes up behind your heart,\Nit's your major artery --
Dialogue: 0,0:01:22.36,0:01:27.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it was severed, so my blood\Nwas gurgling out of my mouth.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:27.23,0:01:30.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It foamed, and ... horrible things\Nwere happening to me.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.20,0:01:34.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had no idea what was going on,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.92,0:01:36.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but strangers intervened,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.90,0:01:40.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,kept my heart moving, beating.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:40.50,0:01:42.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I say "moving," because it was quivering,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:42.81,0:01:45.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they were trying to put\Na beat back into it.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:45.81,0:01:48.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Somebody was smart\Nand put a Bic pen in my neck
Dialogue: 0,0:01:48.80,0:01:52.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to open up my airway,\Nso I could get some air in there.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.15,0:01:53.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And my lung collapsed,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:53.50,0:01:56.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so somebody cut me open\Nand put a pen in there as well,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:56.50,0:02:01.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to stop that catastrophic\Nevent from happening.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:03.60,0:02:05.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Somehow I ended up at the hospital.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:05.82,0:02:07.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was wrapped in ice,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:07.10,0:02:10.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then eventually put\Ninto a drug-induced coma.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.17,0:02:14.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Eighteen months later, I woke up.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.61,0:02:17.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was blind, I couldn't speak
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.50,0:02:19.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I couldn't walk.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:19.41,0:02:21.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was 64 pounds.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.28,0:02:29.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The hospital really has no idea\Nwhat to do with people like that.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.30,0:02:32.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And in fact, they started\Nto call me a "gomer."
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.50,0:02:34.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's another story\Nwe won't even get into.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:36.43,0:02:39.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had so many surgeries\Nto put my neck back together,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.79,0:02:41.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to repair my heart a few times.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:41.50,0:02:44.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some things worked, some things didn't.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:44.04,0:02:45.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had lots of titanium put in me;
Dialogue: 0,0:02:45.96,0:02:47.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,cadaver bones,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.39,0:02:50.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to try to get my feet\Nmoving the right way.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.67,0:02:52.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I ended up with a plastic nose,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.42,0:02:54.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,porcelain teeth\Nand all kinds of other things.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:54.63,0:02:57.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But eventually,\NI started to look human again.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.78,0:03:00.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But ...
Dialogue: 0,0:03:03.84,0:03:06.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's hard sometimes\Nto talk about these things,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:06.11,0:03:07.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so bear with me.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.29,0:03:10.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had more than 50 surgeries.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:10.70,0:03:12.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But who's counting?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:12.32,0:03:14.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:03:14.13,0:03:17.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So eventually, the hospital decided\Nit was time for me to go.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:17.40,0:03:20.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They needed to open up\Nspace for somebody else
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.26,0:03:23.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that they thought could come back
Dialogue: 0,0:03:23.50,0:03:26.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from whatever they were going through.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.50,0:03:29.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Everybody lost faith in me\Nbeing able to recover.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.90,0:03:32.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So they basically put a map\Nup on the wall, threw a dart,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:32.96,0:03:35.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it landed at a senior home,\Nhere in Colorado.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:37.50,0:03:39.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I know all of you\Nare scratching your head:
Dialogue: 0,0:03:39.76,0:03:40.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"A senior citizens' home?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.01,0:03:43.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What in the world\Nare you going to do there?"
Dialogue: 0,0:03:43.17,0:03:45.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But if you think about\Nall of the skills and talent
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.62,0:03:48.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that are in this room right now,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.20,0:03:50.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's what a senior home has.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:50.26,0:03:52.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So there were all these skills and talents
Dialogue: 0,0:03:52.34,0:03:53.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that these seniors had.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:54.30,0:03:57.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The one advantage\Nthey had over most of you
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.19,0:03:58.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is wisdom,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:58.36,0:04:00.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because they had a long life.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:01.11,0:04:03.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I needed that wisdom\Nat that moment in my life.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:04.36,0:04:06.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But imagine what it was like for them
Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.18,0:04:08.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when I showed up at their doorstep.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:09.02,0:04:12.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At that point, I had gained\Nfour pounds, so I was 68 pounds.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:13.00,0:04:14.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was bald.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:14.88,0:04:16.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was wearing hospital scrubs.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.91,0:04:19.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And somebody donated tennis shoes for me.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.60,0:04:22.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I had a white cane in one hand
Dialogue: 0,0:04:22.79,0:04:25.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and a suitcase full of medical\Nrecords in another hand.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.18,0:04:28.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the senior citizens realized
Dialogue: 0,0:04:28.40,0:04:30.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that they needed to have\Nan emergency meeting.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.71,0:04:32.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:04:32.50,0:04:35.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So they pulled back\Nand they were looking at each other,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.50,0:04:39.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they were going, "OK,\Nwhat skills do we have in this room?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:39.60,0:04:41.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This kid needs a lot of work."
Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.27,0:04:47.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So they eventually started\Nmatching their talents and skills
Dialogue: 0,0:04:47.10,0:04:48.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to all of my needs.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:49.02,0:04:51.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But one of the first things\Nthey needed to do
Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.20,0:04:53.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was assess what I needed right away.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.40,0:04:56.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I needed to figure out how to eat\Nlike a normal human being,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:56.56,0:04:59.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,since I'd been eating\Nthrough a tube in my chest
Dialogue: 0,0:04:59.93,0:05:01.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and through my veins.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:01.50,0:05:04.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I had to go\Nthrough trying to eat again.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.73,0:05:06.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they went through that process.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:06.91,0:05:08.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then they had to figure out:
Dialogue: 0,0:05:08.50,0:05:10.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Well, she needs furniture.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.28,0:05:13.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She is sleeping in the corner\Nof this apartment."
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.38,0:05:15.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So they went to their storage lockers
Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.50,0:05:17.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and all gathered their extra furniture --
Dialogue: 0,0:05:17.50,0:05:19.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,gave me pots and pans, blankets --
Dialogue: 0,0:05:21.04,0:05:22.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,everything.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:23.32,0:05:26.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then the next thing that I needed
Dialogue: 0,0:05:26.82,0:05:27.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was a makeover.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:28.30,0:05:29.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:05:29.47,0:05:31.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So out went the green scrubs,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:31.05,0:05:33.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and in came the polyester\Nand floral prints.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:33.94,0:05:38.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.25,0:05:40.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We're not going to talk\Nabout the hairstyles
Dialogue: 0,0:05:40.39,0:05:43.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they tried to force on me\Nonce my hair grew back.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:44.00,0:05:45.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I did say no to the blue hair.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:45.76,0:05:47.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:05:49.32,0:05:52.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So eventually, what went on is,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:53.02,0:05:55.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they decided that, well,\NI need to learn to speak.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:55.92,0:05:57.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can't be an independent person
Dialogue: 0,0:05:57.75,0:06:00.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if you're not able to speak\Nand you can't see.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:00.50,0:06:03.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So they figured not being able\Nto see is one thing,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:03.44,0:06:05.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but they need to get me to talk.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:05.50,0:06:08.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So while Sally, the office manager,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:08.50,0:06:10.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was teaching me to speak in the day --
Dialogue: 0,0:06:10.42,0:06:14.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's hard, because when you're a kid,\Nyou take things for granted.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:14.57,0:06:16.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You learn things unconsciously.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:16.29,0:06:19.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But for me, I was an adult\Nand it was embarrassing,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:19.78,0:06:23.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I had to learn how to coordinate\Nmy new throat with my tongue
Dialogue: 0,0:06:23.71,0:06:26.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and my new teeth and my lips,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:26.50,0:06:28.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and capture the air and get the word out.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:28.100,0:06:30.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, I acted like a two-year-old,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:30.85,0:06:32.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and refused to work.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:34.15,0:06:36.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the men had a better idea.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:36.66,0:06:38.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They were going to make it fun for me.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:39.01,0:06:42.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So they were teaching me\Ncuss-word Scrabble at night.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:42.81,0:06:45.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:06:47.11,0:06:50.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then, secretly,\Nhow to swear like a sailor.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:50.77,0:06:51.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:06:51.80,0:06:55.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm going to just leave it\Nto your imagination
Dialogue: 0,0:06:55.64,0:06:58.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as to what my first words were --
Dialogue: 0,0:06:58.18,0:06:59.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:06:59.19,0:07:02.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when Sally finally got\Nmy confidence built.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:02.19,0:07:04.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:07:04.40,0:07:06.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I moved on from there.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:06.43,0:07:09.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And a former teacher\Nwho happened to have Alzheimer's
Dialogue: 0,0:07:09.63,0:07:11.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,took on the task of teaching me to write.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:13.36,0:07:15.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The redundancy was actually good for me.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:15.70,0:07:17.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, we'll just keep moving on.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:17.50,0:07:21.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:07:24.37,0:07:26.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One of the pivotal times for me
Dialogue: 0,0:07:26.59,0:07:29.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was actually learning\Nto cross the street again
Dialogue: 0,0:07:29.28,0:07:30.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as a blind person.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:32.00,0:07:33.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So close your eyes.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:34.26,0:07:37.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now imagine you have to cross a street.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:37.18,0:07:39.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You don't know how far that street is,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:40.86,0:07:43.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you don't know\Nif you're going straight.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:43.50,0:07:46.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And you hear cars whizzing back and forth,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:46.91,0:07:48.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you had a horrible accident
Dialogue: 0,0:07:48.50,0:07:50.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that landed you in this situation.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:51.29,0:07:53.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So there were two obstacles\NI had to get through.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:54.50,0:07:57.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One was post-traumatic stress disorder.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:57.93,0:08:01.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Every time I approached\Nthe corner or the curb,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:01.72,0:08:03.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I would panic.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:03.03,0:08:04.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the second one
Dialogue: 0,0:08:04.85,0:08:07.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was actually trying to figure out\Nhow to cross that street.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:08.50,0:08:11.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So one of the seniors just came up to me,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:11.41,0:08:14.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and she pushed me\Nup to the corner and said,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:14.77,0:08:17.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"When you think it's time to go,\Njust stick the cane out there.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:17.78,0:08:19.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If it's hit, don't cross the street."
Dialogue: 0,0:08:19.64,0:08:25.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:08:25.16,0:08:26.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Made perfect sense.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:26.60,0:08:27.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:08:27.76,0:08:31.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But by the third cane\Nthat went whizzing across the road --
Dialogue: 0,0:08:31.38,0:08:32.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:08:32.75,0:08:35.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they realized that they needed\Nto put their resources together,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:35.83,0:08:37.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they raised funds
Dialogue: 0,0:08:37.33,0:08:39.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so that I could go\Nto the Braille Institute
Dialogue: 0,0:08:39.44,0:08:44.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and actually gain the skills\Nto be a blind person,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:44.06,0:08:46.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and also to go get a guide dog,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:46.08,0:08:47.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who transformed my life.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:47.96,0:08:49.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I was able to return to college
Dialogue: 0,0:08:49.75,0:08:53.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because of the senior citizens\Nwho invested in me,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:53.50,0:08:56.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and also the guide dog\Nand skill set I had gained.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:57.50,0:08:59.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ten years later, I gained my sight back.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:59.79,0:09:01.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Not magically --
Dialogue: 0,0:09:01.86,0:09:04.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I opted in for three surgeries,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:04.86,0:09:06.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and one of them was experimental.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:06.75,0:09:08.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was actually robotic surgery
Dialogue: 0,0:09:08.50,0:09:10.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that removed a hematoma\Nfrom behind my eye.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:13.10,0:09:17.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The biggest change for me\Nwas that the world moved forward,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:17.95,0:09:21.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that there were innovations\Nand all kinds of new things --
Dialogue: 0,0:09:22.02,0:09:23.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,cellphones, laptops,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:23.97,0:09:26.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all these things\Nthat I had never seen before.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:26.64,0:09:28.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And as a blind person,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:28.32,0:09:30.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,your visual memory fades,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:30.86,0:09:34.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and is replaced with how you\Nfeel about things
Dialogue: 0,0:09:34.90,0:09:36.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and how things sound
Dialogue: 0,0:09:36.74,0:09:38.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and how things smell.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:39.50,0:09:41.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So one day, I was in my room
Dialogue: 0,0:09:42.01,0:09:44.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I saw this thing sitting in my room.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:44.11,0:09:45.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I thought it was a monster,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:45.50,0:09:47.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so I was walking around it.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:47.64,0:09:49.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I go, "I'm just going to touch it."
Dialogue: 0,0:09:49.66,0:09:51.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I touched it and I went,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:51.07,0:09:53.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Oh my God, it's a laundry basket."
Dialogue: 0,0:09:54.33,0:09:57.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:09:58.22,0:10:02.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Everything is different\Nwhen you're a sighted person,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:02.28,0:10:03.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because you take that for granted.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:03.96,0:10:07.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But when you're blind,\Nyou have the tactile memory for things.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:08.82,0:10:11.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The biggest change for me\Nwas looking down at my hands
Dialogue: 0,0:10:11.39,0:10:14.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and seeing that I'd lost\N10 years of my life.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:15.30,0:10:18.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I thought that time\Nhad stood still for some reason
Dialogue: 0,0:10:18.38,0:10:20.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and moved on for family and friends.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:20.24,0:10:21.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But when I looked down,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:21.75,0:10:24.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I realized that time\Nmarched on for me, too,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:24.34,0:10:26.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that I needed to get caught up.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:26.09,0:10:27.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I got going on it.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:29.17,0:10:33.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We didn't have words like "crowdsourcing"\Nand "radical collaboration"
Dialogue: 0,0:10:33.11,0:10:34.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when I had my accident.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:34.85,0:10:36.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the concept held true --
Dialogue: 0,0:10:36.64,0:10:39.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people working with people to rebuild me;
Dialogue: 0,0:10:39.08,0:10:41.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people working with people\Nto reeducate me.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:41.91,0:10:43.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I wouldn't be standing here today
Dialogue: 0,0:10:43.75,0:10:47.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if it wasn't for extreme\Nradical collaboration.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:47.50,0:10:48.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you so much.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:48.82,0:10:52.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)