ABC's Robin Roberts shares the news that she has Myelodysplastic Syndrome, a rare blood related disease. She explains the treatment process and her fellow co-hosts from Good Morning America share their memories of her last illness and their hopes for her future.

"I wish to point out some mistakes in your last week’s issue in the account given of him by Sir Frederick Treves in his recently published book. It is only the errors that I wish to rectify here."

"The showing of Meyrick never appeared to any of us as being in any way detrimental to him–I mean painful."

"The big majority of showmen are in the habit of treating their novelties as human beings, and in a large number of cases as one of their own, and not like beasts…"

Tom Norman’s letter to the World’s Fair regarding Joseph Merrick, the Elephant Man (1923) 

Sir. — Being one of four persons who, just over 40 years ago, that had a business interest in Joseph Meyrick (not Merrick), the Elephant Man; the other three being the late Geo. Hitchcock (little George), Sam Torr (Comedian), and Sam Roper, at that time a licensed victualler in Belgrave Gate, Leicester. I wish to point out some mistakes in your last week’s issue in the account given of him by Sir Frederick Treves in his recently published book. It is only the errors that I wish to rectify here. All or any other detailed reminiscences of Meyrick, from his life in Leicester workhouse until his being sent to a convalescent home by the late King Edward and Queen Alexandra (then Prince and Princess of Wales) can be seen in my book of life entitled, “Sixty-five years a Butcher, Farmer, Showman, Auctioneer” price 1/- of most large booksellers.

Joseph Meyrick was undoubtedly suffering from a disease known in the medical profession as elephantisis [sic], but then the public in general did not know that; and he was not exhibited in an empty greengrocer’s shop. That shop was next door to the one he was exhibited in and kept by a man named Geary an Irishman in Whitechapel Road. The shop on the other side of the one we were showing was and still is, I believe, a pawnbroker’s. The premises used for the exhibition of Meyrick had for several years previously been a waxwork exhibition owned by a man of the name of Cotton. I came to London and rented it from him and removed Meyrick thereto, and at that time there was every week-day morning and afternoon up till about 3 p.m. a number of students with no hats on, and white coats, coming in and out of the London Hospital opposite for the purpose of what I then presumed to obtain some refreshments, fresh air, etc., and after a few had out of curiosity visited the exhibition the wonderful sight of Meyrick soon got spread about amongst them, and no doubt that is the reason of Sir Frederick’s visit himself with the result he gives in his book.

The showing of Meyrick never appeared to any of us as being in any way detrimental to him–I mean painful. He was never turned out of the workhouse. We made an application from the proper authorities for his discharge, and after giving the guarantee required we obtained his release, after which he was not only much better in health but as he frequently stated much happier. He would never listen to the idea of returning to the workhouse. Moreover he was never exhibited excepting in three towns before coming to London and I am positive that he never entered a caravan in his life.

It is doubtless true that he never knew a parent’s affection. But I can honestly state that as far as his comfort was concerned while with us, no parent could have studied their own child more than any of all the four of us studied Joseph Meyrick’s.

Your report from the book states Sir. F. Treves says that ‘His miseries on exhibition continued for 21 years. ['] I can prove without a doubt that Meyrick’s period of exhibiting did not last but about 30 months. That is all I wish to state here, with the exception that the big majority of showmen are in the habit of treating their novelties as human beings, and in a large number of cases as one of their own, and not like beasts. Thanking you in anticipation, yours etc. Tom Norman (Silver King).

(World’s Fair, February 24, 1923, p. 5) 

Source: Public Domain Review

Learn more about Joseph Meyrick's life here.

Bill Gates discusses the passing of Steve Jobs and how that has impacted his career and personal life. He reveals how he spent a few hours with Jobs before his death and made peace with him. Steve Paul, "Steve Jobs", along with Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne, was the chairman, and CEO of Apple Inc. He is known for his Apple products and revolutionizing the computer and smartphone industry. Jobs died at his Palo Alto, California, home around 3 pm on October 5, 2011, from respiratory arrest.

Professor Martinez J. Hewlett of the University of Arizona describes the moral and theological controversy that the Human Genome Project caused when the sequencing of DNA first began in the 1990s. The first draft of the Human Genome Project was published in "Nature" on February 15, 2001 with the final sequencing mapping completed on April 14, 2003.

Dr. Haynes Robinson discusses how the Human Genome Project (HGP) has changed the medical field. He discusses how the project will help doctors gain information about diseases and get a head start on treating newborns with problems found in their genetics. Robinson is the co-director of Dr. Gary Benfield Regional Fetal Treatment Center of Akron Children's Hospital. HGP is an international scientific research project with a primary goal of determining the sequence of chemical base pairs which make up human DNA, and of identifying and mapping the total genes of the human genome.

Dr. Francis Collins, former director of the Human Genome Project (HGP), believes that because of the decoding of the human genome, they are now able to analyze and evaluate probable diseases in genes at an earlier and faster rate. He shares a story about discovering a gene linked to a woman's illness, which has been helpful in treating her unique medical problem. HGP is an international scientific research project with a primary goal of determining the sequence of chemical base pairs which make up human DNA–and identifying and mapping the total genes of the human genome.

Dr. Eugene Glick discusses a patient who he remembers before Roe V. Wade, that put a rubber catheter up against her cervix. His first person account reveals his amazement and slight horror at the lengths the women went through before abortion became legal. In 1973, Roe v. Wade, was a decision passed by the United States Supreme Court regarding abortion. The Court ruled 7–2 that a right to privacy under the due process clause of the 14th Amendment extended to a woman's decision to have an abortion. Women could choose abortion in earlier months of pregnancy without legal restriction, and with restrictions in later months, based on that right to privacy.

George Tiller, a physician that preformed late-term abortions for women, explains what made him become an abortion doctor and his views on what abortion is all about. His first person account reveals how the patients of his father, who also preformed abortions, led him to believe that abortions are for women who have the potential and need the space to do more with their lives. On May 31, 2009, George Tiller was killed by Scott Roeder during a Sunday morning service at his church. In 1973, Roe v. Wade, was a decision passed by the United States Supreme Court regarding abortion. Women could choose abortion in earlier months of pregnancy without legal restriction, and with restrictions in later months, based on that right to privacy.

Dr. Mildred Hanson explains how she and other U.S. doctors found a way around the law to provide abortions to women. Her first person account explains how they would coach women into pretending to be suicidal because of the baby, so that the law would permit them to terminate the pregnancy. In 1973, Roe v. Wade, was a decision passed by the United States Supreme Court regarding abortion. The Court ruled 7–2 that a right to privacy under the due process clause of the 14th Amendment extended to a woman's decision to have an abortion. Women could choose abortion in earlier months of pregnancy without legal restriction, and with restrictions in later months, based on that right to privacy.

A pro-life radio station interviews Dr. Sarah Weddington, the attorney who successfully represented “Jane Roe” in Roe v. Wade in 1973 in front of the Supreme Court, thereby legalizing abortion. Roe’s real name is Norma McCorvey and she has since changed positions on the abortion issue; Weddington discusses whether or not she wishes she could retry the case based on that information, whether fraud was involved in Roe v. Wade and much more. On January 22, 1973 the case was decided with a 7 to 2 majority vote after over a year of deliberation.