So tomorrow is the day we've been waiting for!   All the tests, surgeries, waiting.  Tomorrow Rick gets his DBS stimulator programmed & turned on!

Some of you may be wondering what I'm talking about.  You see, the surgery was just to implant the probe & the device.  The real excitement doesn't start until the device actually gets turned on, and up until now, it's been off.   Sitting in Rick's chest just waiting to be turned on and do it thing!

Rick the morning of the first surgery on October 10. 

The first surgery was on October 10th.  That's where the probe was implanted into the left side of Rick's brain.  Left brain controls the right side of the body.  Everything went incredibly well.  Rick & I were expecting big things from this day, and we knew the favor of God was with us. There were some pretty smart people in that surgery!  A neurologist, a neuro-surgeon, a neuro-physiologist (whose job it was to listen to the specific brain cells firing - they literally could hear the hand, finger, eye, etc. cells fire!!!) just to name a few!  The 6 hour surgery only took 3 1/2 hours.  I knew things went well when I saw Rick's neurologist, Dr. Rezak & his nurse, Allison, walking towards me with huge grins on their faces!

Rick, Dr. Rezak, & Allison, getting ready to take Rick into surgery!

Earlier that morning when Rick was in pre-op they had told me that the tremor that he has in his tongue probably wouldn't go away with this first surgery, that once he had the DBS on his right brain for his left body, only then it would stop.  Wouldn't you know it....when they were testing Rick for the correct placement of the probe, his tongue tremor STOPPED!  Dr. Masnyk, the neurosurgeon, said that things went better than textbook.  Dr. Rezak was thrilled at the results they achieved when the stimulator was turned on!  It was exactly what we had believed for!

The first time I got to speak to Rick after the surgery.

Rick recovered extremely well, and the very next day we were out of the hospital.  He had very little pain from the first surgery and by 48 hours after the surgery we were out walking a mile in the neighborhood!  We had been told that he may experience a phenomenon that is a false sense of being "better" for a few days, and Rick absolutely had that.  It's as though "tickling" the brain interrupts the PD signals for a short period of time.  It was a neat glimpse of what we are hoping to see after his device gets turned on!

The morning after his first surgery!  Feeling great and ready to go!

The following Monday, October 17, we were back to the hospital again for part 2 of the surgery.  This time it was just a "simple" outpatient surgery to implant the stimulator in Rick's chest, connect the lead to the probe, and the lead to the stimulator.  This was a quick 1 1/2 procedure and we were home before dinner.  Rick had a bit more pain this time as the "tunneling" of the lead down his neck was a  vigorous move (the doctors words, not mine!).  The area where they put in the lead was very tender, but once again, Rick was feeling good the next day.

This past Monday we went back to see the surgeon and have the stitches on  Rick's head removed.  The nurse was blown away by how much Rick's hair had grown back and how fast he was healing!  While we were waiting Rick let me take a quick video of him.  Normally he wouldn't be very comfortable with this but he knows this is about to go away.  We want those of you who don't see him every day see the difference once the stimulator gets turned on.  This video is short, but this is to give you an idea of his tremor 40 minutes AFTER he's taken his medication.  The second video is a little older &  is to try and give you an idea of what his dyskensia or as he likes to call it his "silly walk" looks like.  I can't wait to post videos of him after the stimulator is programmed! 

 

After the second surgery!  They only shaved half of his head!

Rick got several nice hats as get well gifts! 

Rick & his two nephews, Cory & Chris.  Not too often all 3 of them have no hair!

Rick's Neurologist, Dr. Rezak made the list of top U.S Neurologists!

The last few weeks have been extremely exciting for us and we've had a countdown running til the day the device is turned on permanently.  If you're wondering why we had to wait, it's because they need the brain to "settle down" after the surgery and get back to normal so that they can have the optimal programming effects.  So tomorrow morning, we will spend 3 hours with Dr. Rezak doing the initial programming of the stimulator in Rick's chest.  We're expecting that things will be great the first time out, as sometimes it can take a series of appointments to "tweak" things to get the settings right!

Thursday night we will experience our first time traveling and going through security with the device in Rick's chest as we're heading off for a weekend in Park City, UT for our business.  No, we won't be skiing.  Mostly because the resorts aren't open yet, but also because Rick's not cleared for vigorous activity for a few more weeks.  We're thrilled at the prospect of getting back out to ski again.  You can bet this won't be our last trip to Utah!

Thank you to everyone who has been so supportive and encouraging to us through this process.  You're prayers and well wishes have meant the world to us.  I spent more than an hour reading to Rick all of the texts, emails & Facebook notes you all sent us during his first surgery.  We feel so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family.  Stay tuned because this journey is just getting started!

The BEST is yet to come!  - RPOJC

With all our love, In Jesus Name!


Traci & Rick