Cindy,

I was amazed too how quickly I recovered. I got out of surgery at 11:00am and was dismissed at 3:00pm the following afternoon. At 8:00am the next morning (less than 2 days prior to going into the operating room) my son and I drove down to the Civic Center in Seattle. We walked around the World's Fair site for a couple of hours, took the monorail to downtown and walked around the shopping areas until I became too tired to continue. I don't want to infer that this would be what everyone would experience as we are all different and the affects of the surgery would be different for each of us.

Paula,

I don't think it took bravery to have the surgery. I think you come to a point that you have to accept that you are are becoming a handicapped person and every day for the rest of your life is going to be restricted greatly in what you can do. I refused to accept that and wanted to continue to work and be able to get around on my own. The only way I knew that the possiblity existed was through DBS. The decision turned to one of hope and excitement of what it would be like not to have to live with the affects of the disease that I was currently experiencing.

A poem I wrote and posted on BrainTalk some time ago explains it:

Aspirations Before DBS
Diagnosed at 39,
Still in my prime.

DBS at 59,
Is there still time?

Time for new love,
Sent from above?

Time to share joys,
And make lots of noise?

Time to be relearn,
The things I still yearn?

Time for rebirth,
To enjoy this earth?

Time in every day,
To stop and play?

Though life is short,
The news to report.

That DBS can give,
A new life to live.

Life After DBS
20 years living with aches and pain,
Now with DBS my life to reclaim!

20 years not knowing about tomorrow,
Now no need for excuses to borrow!

20 years shaking of a limb,
Now I can read as I sing a hymn!

20 years shuffling my feet,
Now I can run, oh so sweet!

20 years body was rigid,
Now thawed, no longer frigid!

20 years parsing out pills,
Now far fewer prescription refills!

20 years having little hope,
Now I have goals, no need to mope!

20 years being alone,
Now no fear that the kids are grown!

How many years without a cure in sight,
How many more for those with this plight?