1. Summarize the progression of Leonard’s symptoms from when he was a child to adulthood?
Leonard’s prognosis slowly gets worse and worse. As a child, Leonard is capable of reading and writing. As he gets older, Leonard’s condition begins to deteriorate. Eventually he develops tremors that impede his ability to sit still and write. Not long after, Leonard’s tremors get so strong and persistent that he completely loses the power to move and speak independently.
2. Describe Dr. Malcolm Sayer’s personality. Evaluate his social skill?
Dr. Malcolm Sayer has a very quirky personality. Although he is both smart and seemingly altruistic, he is flawed when it comes to social interactions. One example is during the guest lecture when Sayer randomly raises his hand to ask a question. When he is ignored, he follows the speaker into the bathroom and holds a conversation them. These are clearly not normal social interactions. Sayer is also bad at explaining himself in layman’s terms. When attempting to explain L-Dopa, Sayer used a bunch of complicated scientific terms that the families did not understand. One positive aspect of Sayer’s personality is that he is determined to help his patients. Since he is in a home for chronically ill people, he is motivated to help them in some sort. Sayer is so motivated that he risks his career to change the dose of L-Dopa given to a patient.
3. Identify the behaviors exhibited by the patients that lead Dr. Sayer to question their diagnoses?
The behavior that interested Sayer is the sporadic actions of the patients. Sayer hypothesized that the patients possessed some form of awareness of the world around them. This would mean there is hope for them because there might be a chance to bring them back to reality. It was previously thought that nothing could be done. One example of this awareness is demonstrated by Lucy when she walks only on patterned floor and stops when the pattern ends.