MY HEALTH ISSUES

I have health issues. Who does not at my age – I am 84 years old. These facts are not exactly  new news. At 84 years of age, one expects to have at least some kind of health issue.  But, I did not expect that I would be challenged to this extent. I have had prostate cancer, a heart attack, a very bad lower back, have Parkinson’s, and may have nerve damage in my left leg due to spinal nerve compression. Do you feel sorry for me? Well, I hope not, because I have been the beneficiary of the best that medical science has on offer in our part of the World. The best of the best is my brand new Deep Brain Stimulator (DBS).  Actually, I have two of them – one each for the right and left side of my brain. These devices make it possible for me to live without the significant disabilities that come with a Parkinson’s diagnosis. Each of theses devices consist of an electrode assembly, a computer/battery, and a hand held controller. The electrode assembly  is implanted in the brain through a hole bored in the skull for that purpose. The electrode delivers a therapeutic electric signal to the brain. The signal is generated  in the computer using parameters selected by a medical technician based on the response of the patient to systematic variation of the parameters. The computer is under the skin of the patient in the upper chest area and is connected to the electrode by wires also under the skin. The technician “talks” to the device computer via an inductive link. The technician observes the patient’s response to a particular signal and makes appropriate adjustments until the patients response is satisfactory. In my case, “satisfactory” is the suppression of almost all of my Parkinson’s symptoms. I am very highly indebted to the many medical personnel who have made this possible. Thank you all!