This TED Talk features scientist Kate Stone recorded live at TED-2018.

Five years ago, I stood on the TED stage and I spoke about my work.

But one year later, I had a terrible accident as I left a pub at one dark night with friends in Scotland.

As we followed the path through a forest, I suddenly felt a massive thud,

then a second thud, and I fell to the ground, and I had no idea what had hit me. I later found out

that when the gate was opened and a garden, a wild stag stampeded along the path, and ran straight into me.

And its antler penetrated my trachea and my esophagus

and stopped at my spinal cord and fractured my neck.

My best friend found me lying on the floor, gurgling for help,

through a hole in my neck.

And we locked eyes on although I couldn't speak,

she could understand what I was thinking.

And she told me, just breathe.

And so whilst focusing on my breath,

I had a strong sense of calmness,

but I was certain that I was going to die.

And somehow I was content with this,

because I've always tried to do my best in life whenever I can.

So I just continue to enjoy each breath as one more moment, one breath in and one breath out.

And an ambulance came, I was still fully conscious,

and I analyzed everything on the journey, because I'm a scientist.

The sound of the tires on the road, the frequency of the streetlights,

...