Finding a meaning to your illness | Charbel Maroun | TEDxNDULouaize

[Music]

[Music] hi so I’m gonna start with a quick

hi so I’m gonna start with a quick

hi so I’m gonna start with a quick simple question and it’s who has ever

simple question and it’s who has ever

simple question and it’s who has ever encountered change in his life okay so

encountered change in his life okay so

encountered change in his life okay so let’s take all of your thoughts all of

let’s take all of your thoughts all of

let’s take all of your thoughts all of you thought about and let’s put it in

you thought about and let’s put it in

you thought about and let’s put it in the globe let’s put it in the middle of

the globe let’s put it in the middle of

the globe let’s put it in the middle of the scene and look at it from the

the scene and look at it from the

the scene and look at it from the outside and I bet that we can see so

outside and I bet that we can see so

outside and I bet that we can see so many points the first one is that change

many points the first one is that change

many points the first one is that change can occur to anyone at any time any day

can occur to anyone at any time any day

can occur to anyone at any time any day it could be just a small change that

it could be just a small change that

it could be just a small change that happens in our daily life that we don’t

happens in our daily life that we don’t

happens in our daily life that we don’t even notice and then it could go up to

even notice and then it could go up to

even notice and then it could go up to life-changing events life-changing

life-changing events life-changing

life-changing events life-changing changes so it could go from something

changes so it could go from something

changes so it could go from something really small to something really big and

really small to something really big and

really small to something really big and then moreover than that it could go from

then moreover than that it could go from

then moreover than that it could go from something that creates positive vibes in

something that creates positive vibes in

something that creates positive vibes in our life that creates happiness joy

our life that creates happiness joy

our life that creates happiness joy motivation many positive feelings that

motivation many positive feelings that

motivation many positive feelings that we can feel I don’t know success and it

we can feel I don’t know success and it

we can feel I don’t know success and it could lead to devastating events anger

could lead to devastating events anger

could lead to devastating events anger fear depression demotivation and what’s

fear depression demotivation and what’s

fear depression demotivation and what’s more important to me is the last point

more important to me is the last point

more important to me is the last point that sometimes change is self triggered

that sometimes change is self triggered

that sometimes change is self triggered but something that we choose to do it’s

but something that we choose to do it’s

but something that we choose to do it’s something that we decide to happen while

something that we decide to happen while

something that we decide to happen while sometimes it is something totally out of

sometimes it is something totally out of

sometimes it is something totally out of hands something totally random something

hands something totally random something

hands something totally random something totally unexpected I was 15 years old I

totally unexpected I was 15 years old I

totally unexpected I was 15 years old I don’t remember I ate anything

don’t remember I ate anything

don’t remember I ate anything contaminated I don’t remember being

contaminated I don’t remember being

contaminated I don’t remember being exposed to any super radiation nuclear I

exposed to any super radiation nuclear I

exposed to any super radiation nuclear I don’t know what and I don’t remember

don’t know what and I don’t remember

don’t know what and I don’t remember doing anything wrong but two weeks

doing anything wrong but two weeks

doing anything wrong but two weeks before my 16th birthday I was diagnosed

before my 16th birthday I was diagnosed

before my 16th birthday I was diagnosed with blood cancer leukemia

with blood cancer leukemia

with blood cancer leukemia so my chain in my life I I was a

so my chain in my life I I was a

so my chain in my life I I was a full-time student I was just going to

full-time student I was just going to

full-time student I was just going to school and then in a glimpse of a second

school and then in a glimpse of a second

school and then in a glimpse of a second my life changed from a full-time student

my life changed from a full-time student

my life changed from a full-time student to

to

to full-time patient so instead of waking

full-time patient so instead of waking

full-time patient so instead of waking up to catch up my school bus and go

up to catch up my school bus and go

up to catch up my school bus and go spend the day at school I used to wake

spend the day at school I used to wake

spend the day at school I used to wake up to have my daily blood test and

up to have my daily blood test and

up to have my daily blood test and instead of going out there and embraced

instead of going out there and embraced

instead of going out there and embraced life I was in my room fighting for life

life I was in my room fighting for life

life I was in my room fighting for life so this is what happened when I was 15

so this is what happened when I was 15

so this is what happened when I was 15 years old during my treatment I used to

years old during my treatment I used to

years old during my treatment I used to need a lot of blood blood units and

need a lot of blood blood units and

need a lot of blood blood units and platelets so and it was really hard to

platelets so and it was really hard to

platelets so and it was really hard to get these people to donate and my I

get these people to donate and my I

get these people to donate and my I remember really well that my parents and

remember really well that my parents and

remember really well that my parents and my family used to do everything they

my family used to do everything they

my family used to do everything they could just to get someone to donate and

could just to get someone to donate and

could just to get someone to donate and this triggered in me the the need to do

this triggered in me the the need to do

this triggered in me the the need to do something to change because there was

something to change because there was

something to change because there was something wrong and you know when you

something wrong and you know when you

something wrong and you know when you live their life backstage life not the

live their life backstage life not the

live their life backstage life not the regular life you see the misery of

regular life you see the misery of

regular life you see the misery of people you see the darkness of people I

people you see the darkness of people I

people you see the darkness of people I was at the hospital for three years and

was at the hospital for three years and

was at the hospital for three years and I know a lot of cases and I know how

I know a lot of cases and I know how

I know a lot of cases and I know how much people struggle to find the blood

much people struggle to find the blood

much people struggle to find the blood donor sometimes and I could tell you

donor sometimes and I could tell you

donor sometimes and I could tell you that without these donors I wouldn’t

that without these donors I wouldn’t

that without these donors I wouldn’t have been here and a lot of patients

have been here and a lot of patients

have been here and a lot of patients wouldn’t have been here

wouldn’t have been here

wouldn’t have been here so just take a second and I’m gonna go

so just take a second and I’m gonna go

so just take a second and I’m gonna go back in time and show you that the the

back in time and show you that the the

back in time and show you that the the doctor says I need blood units and it’s

doctor says I need blood units and it’s

doctor says I need blood units and it’s urgent

urgent

urgent so I’m there and my hospital room and

so I’m there and my hospital room and

so I’m there and my hospital room and then someone out there left everything

then someone out there left everything

then someone out there left everything they’re doing maybe there aren’t doing

they’re doing maybe there aren’t doing

they’re doing maybe there aren’t doing anything but they left everything they

anything but they left everything they

anything but they left everything they are doing to leave to go to the blood

are doing to leave to go to the blood

are doing to leave to go to the blood bank and to sit there to have a needle

bank and to sit there to have a needle

bank and to sit there to have a needle in hand for I don’t know how much time

in hand for I don’t know how much time

in hand for I don’t know how much time and to give part of themselves to

and to give part of themselves to

and to give part of themselves to someone they don’t even know to someone

someone they don’t even know to someone

someone they don’t even know to someone they don’t even maybe recognize they

they don’t even maybe recognize they

they don’t even maybe recognize they won’t even meet and this is me without

won’t even meet and this is me without

won’t even meet and this is me without anything in return without even no

anything in return without even no

anything in return without even no recognition so just imagine how grateful

recognition so just imagine how grateful

recognition so just imagine how grateful I am for these people and how grateful

I am for these people and how grateful

I am for these people and how grateful our society should be for these people

our society should be for these people

our society should be for these people because they were part of our lives and

because they were part of our lives and

because they were part of our lives and without them we couldn’t have made it

without them we couldn’t have made it

without them we couldn’t have made it here and I remember really well

here and I remember really well

here and I remember really well the

the

the person who donated the most platelets

person who donated the most platelets

person who donated the most platelets was this guy who brings my dad the

was this guy who brings my dad the

was this guy who brings my dad the morning coffee at the office and this

morning coffee at the office and this

morning coffee at the office and this guy he never and he ever refused to take

guy he never and he ever refused to take

guy he never and he ever refused to take a single penny and he donated more than

a single penny and he donated more than

a single penny and he donated more than three times for me so just this is a

three times for me so just this is a

three times for me so just this is a perfect example of how in these

perfect example of how in these

perfect example of how in these circumstances just being humane rises

circumstances just being humane rises

circumstances just being humane rises above everything

above everything

above everything I don’t know race religion beliefs just

I don’t know race religion beliefs just

I don’t know race religion beliefs just being a humane in these situations rises

being a humane in these situations rises

being a humane in these situations rises above everything and the sad thing about

above everything and the sad thing about

above everything and the sad thing about all of that is that now I cannot donate

all of that is that now I cannot donate

all of that is that now I cannot donate blood so I just find anything maybe use

blood so I just find anything maybe use

blood so I just find anything maybe use my story to motivate people to go and

my story to motivate people to go and

my story to motivate people to go and donate blood because every single one of

donate blood because every single one of

donate blood because every single one of us can have a role in our society to

us can have a role in our society to

us can have a role in our society to make an impact in our society and during

make an impact in our society and during

make an impact in our society and during all of these I was once looking at

all of these I was once looking at

all of these I was once looking at social media and then I saw people

social media and then I saw people

social media and then I saw people posting these pictures and then I was

posting these pictures and then I was

posting these pictures and then I was really curious to know what these

really curious to know what these

really curious to know what these pictures about what’s the red-nose the

pictures about what’s the red-nose the

pictures about what’s the red-nose the the hospital corridors and then a few

the hospital corridors and then a few

the hospital corridors and then a few months later I was a member of a team of

months later I was a member of a team of

months later I was a member of a team of volunteers and what we do is clown

volunteers and what we do is clown

volunteers and what we do is clown therapy I didn’t know what was clown

therapy I didn’t know what was clown

therapy I didn’t know what was clown therapy about all I knew is that we go

therapy about all I knew is that we go

therapy about all I knew is that we go to kids room at the hospital and we do

to kids room at the hospital and we do

to kids room at the hospital and we do something but what’s this something I

something but what’s this something I

something but what’s this something I thought that with my experience with

thought that with my experience with

thought that with my experience with what I’ve been through I can really

what I’ve been through I can really

what I’ve been through I can really connect with these kids I can really

connect with these kids I can really

connect with these kids I can really relate because one day I was at their

relate because one day I was at their

relate because one day I was at their place I know what it feels like and I

place I know what it feels like and I

place I know what it feels like and I know what they would need to to have

know what they would need to to have

know what they would need to to have this I’m gonna talk about it so here are

this I’m gonna talk about it so here are

this I’m gonna talk about it so here are some pictures so basically what we do is

some pictures so basically what we do is

some pictures so basically what we do is that we go to these hospital rooms I

that we go to these hospital rooms I

that we go to these hospital rooms I know it’s not only about being in clown

know it’s not only about being in clown

know it’s not only about being in clown and being super energetic because what

and being super energetic because what

and being super energetic because what we learn to do is to connect with these

we learn to do is to connect with these

we learn to do is to connect with these kids to know what they want to know what

kids to know what they want to know what

kids to know what they want to know what their need is because some people some

their need is because some people some

their need is because some people some kids they want super energy

kids they want super energy

kids they want super energy ten minutes fun magic anything and

ten minutes fun magic anything and

ten minutes fun magic anything and some kids they just want the classical

some kids they just want the classical

some kids they just want the classical song and others they just wanna I don’t

song and others they just wanna I don’t

song and others they just wanna I don’t know with the puppets play and you

know with the puppets play and you

know with the puppets play and you should see the reaction on their faces

should see the reaction on their faces

should see the reaction on their faces and on their parents faces and what I

and on their parents faces and what I

and on their parents faces and what I think the mission is about the number

think the mission is about the number

think the mission is about the number one thing about this mission is to be

one thing about this mission is to be

one thing about this mission is to be able to take that kid with his parents

able to take that kid with his parents

able to take that kid with his parents from where they are from the misery they

from where they are from the misery they

from where they are from the misery they are living in from the darkness and yes

are living in from the darkness and yes

are living in from the darkness and yes it’s darkness and to take them from

it’s darkness and to take them from

it’s darkness and to take them from there and for just 10 or 15 minutes to

there and for just 10 or 15 minutes to

there and for just 10 or 15 minutes to take them out and to show them another

take them out and to show them another

take them out and to show them another part of life which is true it’s not a

part of life which is true it’s not a

part of life which is true it’s not a dream this is another part that maybe

dream this is another part that maybe

dream this is another part that maybe they are not living now but just to tell

they are not living now but just to tell

they are not living now but just to tell them that one day you will get there

them that one day you will get there

them that one day you will get there life is not just about misery and

life is not just about misery and

life is not just about misery and darkness you will get there one day and

darkness you will get there one day and

darkness you will get there one day and you should believe that you can get

you should believe that you can get

you should believe that you can get there one day

there one day

there one day so this has balloons anything and this

so this has balloons anything and this

so this has balloons anything and this is how we salute our soldiers right now

is how we salute our soldiers right now

is how we salute our soldiers right now I am 24 years old and who know who

I am 24 years old and who know who

I am 24 years old and who know who thought I would be here one day I

thought I would be here one day I

thought I would be here one day I remember really well when I dropped off

remember really well when I dropped off

remember really well when I dropped off from school when I was diagnosed that my

from school when I was diagnosed that my

from school when I was diagnosed that my only wish was to go to school to spend

only wish was to go to school to spend

only wish was to go to school to spend some days with my friends because you

some days with my friends because you

some days with my friends because you know living the life at the hospital was

know living the life at the hospital was

know living the life at the hospital was was crazy so and I dropped off from

was crazy so and I dropped off from

was crazy so and I dropped off from school but there was one thing that I

school but there was one thing that I

school but there was one thing that I didn’t want to fail my class I didn’t

didn’t want to fail my class I didn’t

didn’t want to fail my class I didn’t want to fail in my life this is why as

want to fail in my life this is why as

want to fail in my life this is why as soon as I got physically a little bit

soon as I got physically a little bit

soon as I got physically a little bit better I started to study because I

better I started to study because I

better I started to study because I didn’t want the train of path of life to

didn’t want the train of path of life to

didn’t want the train of path of life to pass by and I’m here stagnated looking

pass by and I’m here stagnated looking

pass by and I’m here stagnated looking at it without doing anything so I

at it without doing anything so I

at it without doing anything so I decided to study and no I didn’t fail

decided to study and no I didn’t fail

decided to study and no I didn’t fail any class I graduated with my with my

any class I graduated with my with my

any class I graduated with my with my colleagues with my friends and then I

colleagues with my friends and then I

colleagues with my friends and then I sat for the SAT test for three times and

sat for the SAT test for three times and

sat for the SAT test for three times and two out of three times I went with a

two out of three times I went with a

two out of three times I went with a mask on my face and with the shiny bald

mask on my face and with the shiny bald

mask on my face and with the shiny bald skull and yeah I failed all of these

skull and yeah I failed all of these

skull and yeah I failed all of these three tests I didn’t

three tests I didn’t

three tests I didn’t get a score I got admitted at ndu and an

get a score I got admitted at ndu and an

get a score I got admitted at ndu and an engineering program and the first first

engineering program and the first first

engineering program and the first first year and a half I used to leave

year and a half I used to leave

year and a half I used to leave sometimes and you because my blood tests

sometimes and you because my blood tests

sometimes and you because my blood tests weren’t good my immune system wasn’t

weren’t good my immune system wasn’t

weren’t good my immune system wasn’t ready to fight so I had to leave but I

ready to fight so I had to leave but I

ready to fight so I had to leave but I didn’t stop I pointed my finger to the

didn’t stop I pointed my finger to the

didn’t stop I pointed my finger to the horizon and I planned my life as if I

horizon and I planned my life as if I

horizon and I planned my life as if I wasn’t going to die and this is what

wasn’t going to die and this is what

wasn’t going to die and this is what each of us should do and I have made it

each of us should do and I have made it

each of us should do and I have made it but I have not made it because I am such

but I have not made it because I am such

but I have not made it because I am such a superhero over here oh because you can

a superhero over here oh because you can

a superhero over here oh because you can make it and everyone can make it is not

make it and everyone can make it is not

make it and everyone can make it is not not only through cancer through any bump

not only through cancer through any bump

not only through cancer through any bump in our life and through any change in

in our life and through any change in

in our life and through any change in our life and this is a few pictures

thank you

thank you [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]