How DBS affected my life.
June 2000

I am Mindy Brown and I'm forty eight years old. I was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease about eleven years ago. I felt like giving up on life, in spite of my age. This is because simple everyday tasks, such as brushing my teeth, getting dressed by myself, and even cutting my meat, became too much for me to do. The biggest blow to me came when I had to stop driving.

The doctor I was seeing is considered a good movement disorder specialist. He tried many, if not all of, the different kinds of medications that were available in this country and even Canada. He claimed I was on the same dose of medications as some of his ninety year old patients. We had discussed the deep brain stimulation surgery before and it came to the point where I could no longer wait.

This is the time of my life, where I consider myself one of the luckiest people in the world. I met Dr. Kelly, Dr. Beric, and Dr. Sterio. They put me through a lot of testing and declared me as a suitable candidate for the sugery.

I had the surgery on February 24, 2000. That was just 14 weeks ago. Today I feel like I'm a totally different person. All of the things I mentioned earlier that I couldn't do, I am now doing. On top of all this, people are constantly telling me how much clearer my speech is and how much better I'm walking. When asked how I'm feeling, I answer "the same way I did twenty five years ago." I am a new person.

I truly feel that the only reason I feel this way is because of these three wonderful doctors. They are a very talented and gifted threesome. Their staff, such as Annie, Evelyn and Patty are truly the best. I was so abnormally scared, that these people took over and arranged everything fot me and before I knew it, the surgery was over. I never saw a medical team act as kind and proficient before.

Were there any problems? When I saw Dr. Kelly a few weeks ago he suggested that I talk about the one I am experiencing. I hesitated because I am doing so well, that I didn't want to bring up anything negative. However, one of my pacemakers is slightly more raised than the other one. This is causing me a lot of sensitivity and some discomfort, especially with the seatbelt in the car, my bra strap and lying on that side or on my stomach. Dr. Kelly has assured me that it is correctable. Would I do it again knowing this, you bet I would.

I would truly like to thank my three heroes, these wonderful doctors for giving me back a life. I definitly did not have a life before the surgery and since the operation my new motto is "watch out world, Mindy is back, and she has never been better." Dr. Kelly, Dr. Beric and Dr. Sterio, I will never forget you.