Stephen Hawking’s Brilliant Life Despite the Odds

by Nae McNeail, age

Professor Stephen Hawking unfortunately passed away at the age of 76 in 2018. He was amazing in his academics and an outstanding mathematician before he passed.

Hawking was a hard-working, active man before he was diagnosed at age 21 with motor-neurone disease, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, from which he suffered for almost all of his adult life.

Stephen met his first wife, Jane, a few years before he was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease. Jane and Stephen would have fallen in love with or without his disease.

When he was diagnosed in 1963, Stephen Hawking was told he only had two years left to live. The couple decided to get married in 1965. Stephen and Jane built a life together and had three children. The family enjoyed going on fun outings, making the best of what time they had left. However, Hawking lived far more than two years and was able to see his children grow up to be 38, 47, and 50 years old, respectively.

Hawking’s intelligence was admired by many of his friends, who nicknamed him ‘Einstein.’ His aspiration drove him to get a scholarship to the University of Oxford. It was at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, that Hawking earned his PhD at the age of 24, and he also created his thesis, titled “Properties of Expanding Universes.”

Jane, his wife, met priest Jonathan Hellyer Jones at a Christmas carol service in 1977. Later, they were accused of having an affair in 1990.

Hawking and Jane got divorced in 1995, and Stephen was remarried soon after, later that year, to a woman named Elaine Mason, who was his nurse.

Despite his physical limitations, Hawking achieved many accomplishments and was recognized for his contributions. He was featured on shows and movies, and even had a movie written about him. Having motor-neurone disease was a great challenge for him and for those who helped him. However, Stephen made the best of his situation.

Stephen Hawking was awarded the Companion of Honor in 198 by Queen Elizabeth II. He was also awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom on August 12th, 2009, by President Barack Obama.

Although at times, things may seem impossible, individuals like Stephen Hawking remind us that you can always make your dreams possible despite difficult circumstances. Stephen Hawking was a brilliant man, and continued to be a brilliant man even after he was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease.

[Source: University of Cambridge, Express, The Theory of Everything]