Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story

Candy wakes Carson up one night in May 1985 to report that she is having contractions two minutes apart. As Ben slowly gets himself up, she tells him that the contractions have become more frequent, and within a few moments, he is helping to deliver his second son. His friends tease him, asking, “Did you charge a delivery fee?” (227).

Switching gears, Carson turns his thoughts to how he can find more time to spend with his growing family. He concludes that his top priority is his family, his second his clinical practice, and his third, being “a good role model to young people” (22). He also commits to the time required in his office as an elder at Spencerville Seventh-day Adventist Church. Several steps make these commitments possible. First, Johns Hopkins hires another pediatric neurosurgeon, taking some of the pressure off Carson. Second, Carson commits to leaving for home at 7 p.m. every evening. And he brings his family on speaking engagements that require travel. As his children get older, Carson anticipates that his mother will live with them and help with childcare.

Carson reviews his warning to Candy that she would not see much of him, and her acceptance of that.