The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

I can't sleep. It's late and there is nothing on TV. The perfect moment to describe one of the most amazing stories I have ever heard. I was first exposed to The Diving Bell and the Butterfly during AAC class last semester. We watched the movie during class and I received the book for Christmas. It is a very easy read and I finished it in a day. This story is truly remarkable. It is the story of the previous editor of the French edition of Elle magazine that was written in the blink of an eye, literally. Jean-Dominique Bauby suffered a stroke at the age of 43. He was completely paralyzed and suffered from what is called, 'locked-in syndrome'. He is a prisoner in his own body and his only way of communicating is through the blinking of his left eye. During his time at the Naval Hospital he composed this memoir. He would wake up very early in the morning before the nurse came into his room and he would memorize what he wanted to write for the day. A woman would then come to his room to compose him sentences. She would read through the alphabet and he would blink his eye when the correct letter was read to form words, sentences, paragraphs, chapters and finally this book as the finished product. The book follows his life in the Naval Hospital and his thoughts and feelings about being 'locked-in'. He describes what goes on around him and things he notices that other don't. His is amazing. I can't imagine my life being taken away from me like that. His children come to visit, but he isn't able to hug them. His father isn't able to make the trip so he calls, but Jean-Dominique isn't able to physically answer. He relates his situation to a diving bell and a butterfly (hence the title ha). His body is the diving bell that continuously sinks deeper and deeper into the ocean, while his thoughts and his mind are his savior that takes him away from being 'locked-in'. In the book he says, "My diving bell becomes less oppressive, and my mind takes flight like a butterfly." In one chapter of the book he describes taking a trip to Hong Kong for a conference. He has never been to Hong Kong, but he gets lost in his thoughts for hours and pictures himself in his previous lifestyle. The movie was made in French, and although you have to read the subtitles, it is something to be seen. The book must be read as well. I would finish a page and wonder how long it took for this page to be produced. The entire experience was definitely life changing and makes you think about the simple things in life we so easily take for granted.