A Voice Reclaimed: Parkinson’s Patient Finds Hope in Adjusted DBS Treatment
In a heartwarming Christmas tale, Bernard Parmenter, a 68-year-old former company director, regained his ability to speak, a gift he had lost to Parkinson’s disease. The remarkable event unfolded when doctors successfully recalibrated electrodes implanted in his brain, a procedure known as deep brain stimulation treatment (DBS). The adjustment, performed last month, enabled Bernard to speak again, allowing him to express holiday greetings to his family for the first time in three years.
Reclaiming Voice, Rekindling Hope
For Bernard’s family, the return of his speech was nothing short of a miracle. The event was particularly special for his 11-year-old granddaughter, Freya Bolingbroke, who expressed her joy at finally being able to communicate with her grandfather again. Bernard’s daughter Stephanie, who alongside her husband James, runs a successful clothing firm in Chelmsford, shared the emotional moment they heard Bernard speak after the procedure. The breakthrough marks a significant change in Bernard’s condition, which had previously limited his mobility and confined him to a wheelchair.
DBS: A Beacon of Hope in Parkinson’s Treatment
Parkinson’s disease, a progressive and incurable brain disorder, was diagnosed in Bernard in 2012. It affects over 150,000 individuals in the UK, mostly the elderly. The successful adjustment of Bernard’s DBS has not only given him a renewed sense of hope but also provided a ray of optimism for the countless others battling the debilitating disease. In Bernard’s own words, he ‘feels human again’.
Health Innovations: A Different Beat
In a parallel narrative, Nenad Bach, a Croatian American recording artist and peace activist, diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2010, has found solace in ping pong. Noticing a significant improvement in his symptoms after playing the game, Bach now runs a non-profit organization called Ping Pong Parkinson (PPP). He believes that playing ping pong enhances neuroplasticity in the brain, fostering neuron creation and connections through physical exercise. Bach’s doctors have noted reversal in his Parkinson’s symptoms, a testament to the transformative potential of alternative health innovations.
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