Tremble. Continuously. For 35 years. It sounds like the beginning of a nightmare, but for Neville Waterstorm was everyday reality. Until a group of courageous doctors decided to challenge the impossible to erase his tremors, and succeeded.
A silent revolution
In the heart of Australia, in Southport at the Gold Coast University Hospital, a silent revolution has changed the life of Neville and, potentially, millions of other people who suffer from essential tremors.
“I'll never forget that very first moment when I walked out of the MRI and they put a glass of water in front of me,” Neville recalls, his eyes bright with emotion. For 35 years, that simple gesture (drinking a glass of water) had been an impossible feat. But now, in front of the cameras, Neville raises the glass with a steady hand, without spilling a drop.
What does it mean to live with essential tremors?
For Neville, it meant not being able to do the most basic tasks without difficulty. “It was incredibly difficult to do even simple tasks like feeding myself,” he explains. “And drinking from a glass was simply impossible. I haven't been able to write properly for at least 20 years."
Invisible surgery
The surgery that changed Neville's life is a cutting-edge procedure, I read in Press release of the Australian Public Hospital. There are no scalpels, no incisions. It is an "invisible" surgery, guided by advanced magnetic resonance technology that allows the areas of the brain responsible for tremors to be identified and treated.
The procedure involves recognizing and treating the areas of the brain that cause the symptoms of the disorder with the help of MRI technology. Stopping abnormal brain activity through the procedure helps control symptoms and allows patients to manage their tremors.
The results? Immediate and surprising. “Now, that's just incredible,” Neville says, still in disbelief. “I can drink a glass of water again, and this happened just an hour after the procedure.” But it's not just about that. It is a question of dignity, of rediscovered independence. Of being able to write a check, eat at a restaurant without embarrassment, hold a grandchild without fear.
The future of neurology
This procedure could pave the way for new treatments for a variety of neurological disorders. It's a step forward in our understanding of the brain and how we can "fix" it when something goes wrong.
Technology and science restore lives, dignity, hope.
