As an MD and  PWP who has had STN DBS surgery I wish Tom the best of luck
and tell him to hang in there.  It can take a while to get the adjustment
right but it was worth it in the end.  I am currrently able to drive which I
could not do
for 2 years prior to my surgery.  I have normal reaction time and my
neurologist says I test like someone with mild PD on decreased meds.

Charli

----- Original Message -----
From: Sheila De Vine <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, October 16, 1999 8:24 AM
Subject: Friend having Subthalamic DBS Thursday....


> I just wanted to write to all of you on the list to ask for your support
and
> prayers of a friend of mine who is undergoing a Subthalamic DBS in
Sarasota,
> Florida on Thursday, Oct. 21.
>
> He is the reason I joined the list some 5 years ago and have been on and
off
> the list throughout that time.
>
> To give you some background on who we are let me briefly explain.
>
> We traveled to Denver, Colorado and LA a few years back researching the
> Fetal Tissue Implantation and I have been to Palm Springs visiting with a
> group of Doctors who gave a days worth of information on PD and its
current
> research and results.  Dr. Lieberman was one of the doctors who gave a
> presentation and I visited with him for a short while before the
> presentation.
>
> In addition, I am on the Advisory Board of a local Parkinson's clinic in
> Minneapolis, Minnesota and I chair the Regional Outreach committee trying
to
> reach out to other communities hoping to increase the availability of PD
> specific clinics or at least allow our clinic to train them and use our
> facilitiy and programming expertise as well as the library and other
> resources we have to offer.
>
> The gentleman having the surgery was my significant other for five years.
I
> took a very active role in helping him with his PD.  We have since
separated
> as of January this past year.  But, I feel very strongly about continuing
to
> help his family deal with this disease as well as continuing on with the
> Board that I have worked with for two years now.
>
> He is not very able to work with the computer any longer and never cared
to
> get that involved himself with the clinic, the Board, the internet or even
> watch documentaries on the subject.
>
> His sister has now taken over that role for him after my departure and I
> work with and through her to pass along all this information that comes
> across on the list as well as anything else that can contribute to his
> health and well being.
>
> He is scheduled to have the surgery on Thursday, October 21 in Sarasota,
FL
> by a Dr. Schumacher at the Neurological Research Institute of Sarasota.
> They are a NPF Center of Excellence.
>
> I am asking for your letters of support that I can send to his sister and
> deliver to him.  I am asking also for your prayers.
>
> I will keep you all informed of his surgery as well as his outcome as time
> goes on.
>
> We all need to help each other....which is why we are on this PD List in
the
> first place.  By praying for one another, supporting one another and
sharing
> our information, personal experiences and helping each other know what is
> happening in the world of television, government, and the written
> word.....we will all live a better life.
>
> I thank you all for what I know you will do for Tom and his family.
>
> Sheila De Vine
> [log in to unmask]