Donna Culver

This photograph captures Harriet Tubman at her residence in Auburn, New York, in 1911, just two years prior to her passing. I only recently learned of her struggles with seizures, a result of a piece of metal lodged in her head. As a teenager, Tubman endured a traumatic incident when a slaveowner struck her head with a 2-pound lead weight, originally intended for another fleeing slave. Tubman recalled this attack as "breaking my skull," leading to agonizing headaches and seizures that intermittently rendered her unconscious. Remarkably, despite these challenges, she remained dedicated to her work on the Underground Railroad and her service during the Civil War. Her reputation was so renowned that escaped slaves knew to wait patiently for her to regain consciousness if she ever collapsed, which she always did. Additionally, Tubman carried a pistol, which she would wield when runaway slaves hesitated or considered giving up. With the pistol pointed, she presented them with a stark choice: continue their escape with her or face immediate death. Remarkably, she never lost anyone on the Underground Railroad. After the Civil War, Tubman's efforts allowed her to contribute significantly to her community, aiding veterans and freed slaves. In the 1890s, she underwent brain surgery to remove the metal fragment from her skull. Surprisingly, she opted to forgo anesthesia, instead choosing to bite a bullet, emulating the Union soldiers she had seen endure amputations. In her own words, she described the procedure as the doctor "sawed open my skull, and raised it up, and now it feels more comfortable." Years after her own escape from slavery, Tubman returned to rescue her enslaved husband, only to discover he had remarried and had no intention of leaving his new wife. Despite her initial frustration, Tubman chose not to create a scene and continued to lead numerous other enslaved individuals to freedom. Her remarkable life came to an end in 1913, surrounded by friends and family. Her last words to those in the room were, "I go to prepare a place for you."