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Subscribe to RSSBy Mara Schiavocampo, NBC News correspondent
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You may never have heard of Dr. Charles Kao, but his work has almost certainly affected your life. So many of the things we do everyday - from making phone calls to surfing the internet to uploading pictures - are only possible because of his discoveries. In the 1960's he became a pioneer in theŠfield of fiber-optic technology, figuring out how to send lots of information over vast distances by using glass fibers. Today fiber-optic cables run through our cities and even underneath the ocean, in part providing phone and internet service, and keeping the world connected.
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Last fall, Dr. Kao's work was recognized with the highest honor: The Nobel Prize for Physics. But it was a bittersweet moment. Ironically, the man responsible for such huge advances in the field of communications can barely talk today. Dr. Kao has mid-stage Alzheimer's, and his wife of 50 years had to give his Nobel Speech as he sat nearby, listening.
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I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Kao and his wife this week and it was a pleasure. Though he struggles to speak, whenever Dr. Kao did say something, it reflected his kind spirit. He repeatedly told us we were "good". He smiled through the entire interview. He gave me a gift of a tennis ball. His wife Gwen was just as remarkable, trying to focus on the positive, and treating her husband with the utmost tenderness and warmth. But these are difficult times for the Kao family. Gwen, who is in her 70s herself, is now a full-time caretaker. As she noted during our interview, the man she is caring for is not the person she knew. SheŠsaid she does it out of a sense of duty,Šand admitted that at times she doesn't feel like she can go on. She is usingŠmost of the Nobel Prize moneyŠto cover Charles' medical expenses.Š
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Sadly, the Kao's situation is not unique. More than five million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's,Ša record number. Many of the caregivers, including Gwen Kao, say they need more help, withŠprograms and facilities designed specifically for Alzheimer's patients. It's a huge challenge for the nation, and one that needs significant funding and attention.
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