萝莉社

The guitar was silenced and placed in its case. The microphone was turned off and unplugged. John Clemens could no longer play music. This wasn鈥檛 due to a lack of interest, but because of Parkinson鈥檚 disease symptoms that were only getting worse.

Clemens, who was diagnosed with Parkinson鈥檚 in 2002, couldn鈥檛 stop his hands from trembling. Medication initially helped quell the shaking, but years later his symptoms worsened, his voice changed and breathing became difficult.

Something needed to change, but what could help?

After much research and many doctor鈥檚 appointments, John and his wife, Darlene, discovered deep brain stimulation. The couple would eventually be referred to , where John underwent the multiphase surgical operation that has mitigated the Parkinson鈥檚 symptoms, allowing him to resume music and so much more.

Uncontrollable shaking, remarkable treatment

John and Darlene are high school sweethearts from Illinois who have been married nearly 50 years. These days, the couple lives in Ormond Beach, Florida, where they record music as part of their Southern gospel group called Hope Street. They also have backgrounds in education. John was still teaching high school math when he began to notice the tremors.

鈥淚 had trouble writing on the board, and I had to do something with my hands because I couldn鈥檛 stop them from shaking,鈥� John said. 鈥淓ven the students noticed it.鈥�

John and Darlene retired from teaching in 2007, freeing up time to devote to their music, but his Parkinson鈥檚 disease persisted. John began having trouble walking, speaking, breathing and even concentrating. Because of the complications, Hope Street retired in 2013 after nearly 25 years of performing.

One day a church pastor called John and Darlene to let them know about a fellow clergyman who had undergone a surgical procedure known as deep brain stimulation. They looked into the procedure and were soon in touch with 萝莉社 Jacksonville neurologist Odinachi Oguh, MD, who 鈥� following a number of exams and assessments 鈥� determined John was a great candidate for DBS.

, a neurosurgeon at 萝莉社 Jacksonville, performed the operation in which an electrode (a thin wire) was implanted in John鈥檚 brain to deliver electrical stimulation to targeted areas. That blocks abnormal nerve signals that cause the Parkinson鈥檚 symptoms.

A neurostimulator was implanted under John鈥檚 skin near the collarbone. Oguh uses the neurostimulator to adjust the amount of electrical stimulation with a remote control. The electrode and neurostimulator are connected via an insulated extension wire that was implanted under the skin of John鈥檚 head, neck and shoulder.

Tavanaiepour said the procedure went well and that the calming effects were seen immediately. John returns to 萝莉社 Jacksonville for routine checkups with Oguh and Tavanaiepour.

鈥淲e are pleased that we have been able to help Mr. Clemens,鈥� Tavanaiepour said. 鈥淒BS has had tremendous advances over the past 20 years and there are a lot of patients out there who would benefit from it. We just hope to bring some awareness to this technology.鈥�

Resuming passions, sharing love

Parkinson鈥檚 used to interrupt John鈥檚 sleep, but now he rests peacefully through the night. His hands no longer shake and he has resumed taking walks with his wife and pursuing hobbies such as woodworking.

鈥淢y life after the surgeries is just entirely different,鈥� John said. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 stress enough what it means because I don鈥檛 shake.鈥�

And then there鈥檚 the music. With John鈥檚 regained vocal strength and his tremors under control, he and Darlene decided to revive Hope Street. Their singing group is named after the road they live on bearing the same name 鈥� quite fitting when you consider what they鈥檝e overcome.

鈥淚t鈥檚 great listening to John play the guitar again. God has been so good to us,鈥� Darlene said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e very excited about resuming our performance schedule to where we can hopefully do more than three concerts a month.鈥�

Aside from the music, Darlene is simply glad to have her husband back in good health. She describes Parkinson鈥檚 as a 鈥渧icious disease鈥� that causes a great deal of strain and despair for everyone involved.

鈥淎s you see the one you love with your whole heart slipping away, it鈥檚 a terrible experience. But after the surgeries, you see them coming back, it鈥檚 just phenomenal,鈥� Darlene said.

She encourages anyone who is no longer able to control their Parkinson鈥檚 with medication to look into the possibility of DBS.

鈥淪eriously consider this procedure,鈥� Darlene said. 鈥淭he overall result is just amazing, successful and very encouraging.鈥�