”If you get up in the morning and think the future is going to be better, it is a bright day. Otherwise, it’s not” – Elon Musk
My mom, sister in law Debbie, and I drove to Columbus for what was my fourth visit at Ohio State. We met with Dr. Dalm who is a neurosurgeon that specializes in neuromodulation. He knew I was leaning towards DBS surgery and explained how it works. He also explained the three medical companies that he uses and it would be my choice which one I want to go with. Those are Abbott, Boston Scientific, and Medtronics. While they all three do the same thing, they do each have a few little things that are different. What is DBS? Some of you could be asking this about now. Let me take the time to explain right here. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) involves implanting electrodes within areas of the brain. The electrodes produce electrical impulses that affect brain activity to treat certain medical conditions. The electrical impulses also can affect cells and chemicals within the brain that cause medical conditions. The amount of stimulation in deep brain stimulation is controlled by a pacemaker like device placed under the skin in the upper chest. A wire that travels under the skin connects this device to the electrodes in the brain. Deep brain stimulation is commonly used to treat a number of conditions, such as:
- Parkinson’s disease
- Essential tremors
- Conditions that cause dystonia, such as Meige syndrome
- Epilepsy
- Tourette syndrome
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
It was a pretty simple visit and when I left there I felt very optimistic that I’d be a candidate. He said I would receive a call in a couple of weeks to find out the decision made when they meet as a team. More waiting….
RECIPES WITH GRANDMA JUDY
BAKED FRENCH TOAST
1 16 oz loaf of cinnamon swirl bread
6 eggs
3 c half and half or milk
2 tsp vanilla
3/4 c raisins (optional) or you can use raisin cinnamon bread
Place cubed bread in greased 3 quart shallow baking dish. Mix eggs, half and half, vanilla, and raisins together. Pour over all. Cover and refrigerate at least one hour or overnight. Uncover and bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until golden brown and set in center. Sprinkle with cinnamon or powdered sugar. Serve warm with butter and syrup.