Family That Walks On All Fours
I watched a PBS program, Family That Walks On All Fours this evening. It highlighted the life of a large, poor Turkish family the Ulas, with five adult family members that walk on all fours. The program focused on the excitement within the scientific community about the possibility that the family’s situation might provide us insight into the genes responsible for bipedalism.
The scientific aspects were mildly interesting but the real story for me was the humanity, or lack thereof in the situation. With just a little looking behind the main story you could see how culture, religion, and economics worked against the Ulas. How the scientists were interested in the situation to further their own theories, knowledge and reputation. Everyone was investigating and debating the causes of this family’s plight as a means to prove their theory, but one person, Defne Aruoba, stepped up and said she really didn’t care about the cause. She wanted to help change the family’s situation for the better and screw the scientific theory.
Defne Aruoba is a Turkish psychologist based in Istanbul and a doctoral candidate at the New School for Social Research in New York. It appears her role in the program was planned to be a minor one of translator for the more famous and senior scientist in the film. She was also to perform some basic psychological tests on the affected Ulas family members, to determine their intelligence and mental condition. However to me Defne is the star. She placed her role as scientist second to being a humanitarian.
In one snippet within the film, you see Aruoba arguing with the lead scientist to stop focusing on the theory and take the limited time they have with the family to help them. She emphasized that no one so far had really tried to help the family and it was within their means to do so.
“I don’t know what caused their disability. But I am positive that these people can be helped.”
After Aruoba’s impassioned appeal to the lead scientist you see a local physical therapist is hired to evaluate the family and help with rehabilitation. A walker is purchased and parallel bars are constructed in the family’s yard for them to be able to practice walking upright. Aruoba has even started the Ulas Foundation to raise money to help the Ulas family.
Her efforts made me shed a tear, and inspired me to read more about the story. I went to the PBS website to get more information. From what I read it was obvious that Aruoba was deeply moved by her experience with the Ulas family, and in turn she moved me. I hope you join me in saluting Defne Aruoba and all of those that stand up and make a difference.
_______________________________________________
- You can read more about the program here: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/allfours/
- You can read Defne Aruoba’s thoughts about her experience here: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/allfours/family.html
- The website for contributing to the Ulas Foundation is here: http://www.allfoursfamily.org/
- Image credits for included photos are here: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/allfours/credits.html#photo