How do you quantify AMAZING?

So, it's been a week and the results keep getting better and better. It is an amazing miracle. He now once again looks 38 and acts 38, not 68! He is up and out and moving and grooving. I don't mean to be hookie - but man oh man, you should see him now.

We are still working to adjust meds and the DBS, but holy moly, the difference is unbelieveable. The man is a walking miracle. Craig, Tim and I went to dinner last night while Lauren was at cheer practice. I was amazed at the animation of dinner conversation. Usually he sits and listens and shows little emotion. Last night he was as animated as the rest of us. We were laughing and laughing and laughing (I don't think the waiter dropping our 3 dinner plates of food all over the floor as he is about to serve us had anything to do with that :-)). It was beyond pleasant, it was magnificent!

We ran into some friends last night and they also couldn't believe how still he was and how good he looks.

Prayers have been answered and his life has been restored. I will say it forever - it is an amaxing miracle. Dr. Elias at UVa is a true miracle worker and we will forever be indebted to him!!!

I think we are getting the hang of this...

... Over the past few days, we have been experimenting with clicks and meds. Today he is at -11 clicks from where he started and only on a few Requip a day - he is beginning to see the balance between the meds and the DBS.

This afternoon we went out to lunch - his hands didn't tremor, his face was bright, I didn't have to say "huh" at all, and only once or twice did I get nudged from the leg with the dyskensias. All in all, a very successful outing. You can tell when the Requip starts to wear off though - that leg does some mighty strange things...

So, a friend of mine, one we met when we moved down here 18 months ago, stopped by last night to say hi and to check up on us. She sent me an email this morning. I am quoting her straight from the email, "It was wonderful to see Tim SMILE!! I can see why you missed it. I have to tell you that I am amazed at the difference in Tim. I hope that this will continue to improve as you guys learn how to manage the system". So, for those of you who remember the Tim from 7ish years ago... HE'S BACK BABY!!!!

2 Days Later...

... and quite frankly, a bit stressed and anxious over this process. The meds and the DBS are working against each other a bit. He has terrible dyskenisas - don't know the medical definition, but think of it this way - your leg is attached to your body, but you have NO control over it. It has a mind of his own to the point where if he is over medicated and "charged", it is like his leg is a kite string on a windy day. It literally takes off and does its own thing. Obviously, making walking, sitting still, and lying down virtually impossible. It was so bad on the way home from the hospital that we had to turn off the DBS altogether. He is currently -17 clicks from the original programming.

Tim spoke to the doctor yesterday and told him to stop 2 of the 3 medications he has been on. So, the good news is now he is down to 1.5 pills a day - down from I think around 14. We are documenting the reaction of the meds and what "speed" the DBS is set to so when he goes for reprogramming in January, they will have actual data to work with. We have to experiment now.

So, the good news - speech is louder, stronger, and clearer; his beautiful face/smile/expressions are back and he is as gorgeous as ever; the right side of his body is completely "fixed". Absolutely no tremor in that right leg!!!

Working to improve - Left hand/arm tremor; and him just feeling good.

He thinks he may be coming down with a cold now too and he is still healing from surgery, so, I think in a week's time or so, things will regulate more. I do think he is feeling better...

His brothers Chris and Mike showed up in the middle of the night as a surprise to Tim. When Tim woke up this morning and saw them, he was pretty darn happy. They have been out shopping for the past 4 hours. So, I hope this is the first real step in his recovery!

The kids are good. They don't see daddy all fixed yet so they think the surgeries were a waste of time. We told them it could take up to a year to get this all situated and they are not happy about that. This will be a life lesson we teach to them that will stick to their little bones for the rest of their lives - PATIENCE - now, if only Tim and I can walk the talk, we'll be golden!

Happy rest of your weekend. Love to all...

Miracles Really Do Happen!

Unbelievable - that is about THE word to sum up todays events.

They turned on the device and kept ramping up the "electricity" going through his body. The higher it got, the less the tremor was visible. Then, no tremor. Like gone, bye bye, all gone. We were watching through big tears of joy! It was the most amazing thing I have ever seen in my life! He was still.

Then, they kept adjusting the device to ensure he had the best results possible. Then, his face lightened up. That Parkinson's mask was gone. He has expression in his face. He smiled today more times than I can possibly remember. It is so wonderful - I almost forgot what he looked like genuinely happy, not laughing, just a regular happy guy.

He started talking across the room and I heard him. I wasn't straining or asking him to repeat himself. His voice is booming again.

The doctors asked him to go out in the hall and walk for them - his arms swung - not stiff and rigid, but actually swung at his sides.

We had spaghetti and meatballs for dinner and he ate and did not struggle.

I am amazed and in awe of what these doctors did for Tim. He is where he was 7 years ago - BACK TO NORMAL!

We need to play with his meds now - he definitely doesn't need all of them, but it is dangerous to quit cold turkey so we have to give him the least amount to be in his system that will reak the least amount of havoc.

The power of modern medicine combined with the power of prayer worked amazingly well!!!!!!

I need to thank you all again for all of your help during this very difficult time. It's all good from here on out! Love to all.....

Surgeries are done

Yippee!!! Surgeries have been successfully completed. We are back at the hotel. Tonight will be all about sleep and recovery. At 9am tomorrow, its all about turning it on and seeing a difference. I cannot wait. This has been such a long road. The surgeon seems very pleased with the surgeries and is not expecting anything but the best for him when they turn it on.

More tomorrow night...

Surgery #2

Tim has to be at the hospital tomorrow at 10am. The surgery can start as late as 12:30 and should last a couple of hours. So... we probably won't know anything until around 2pm, but we don't know for sure. There is a possibility it starts earlier. Frankly, I don't care what time it starts as long as he comes out of it well!!!

His turn on his still scheduled for Thursday at 9am. We are all very excited about that.

I will post something tomorrow night after Tim is back in the hotel room and resting comfortably. Wish us luck, and please, keep those prayers coming! xoxo Carie

Just When We Thought...

...The surgery was scheduled for tomorrow, this morning it got moved to Wednesday. They are moving him from outpatient surgery to regular guy in hospital OR. Some scheduling mess up. As long as it is a scheduling mess up and not my husband mess up, I am ok with that :-)

All our plans remain the same, we are still going down this afternoon so we can pick up Maureen from her flight in from Albany.

Please, keep praying, but please postpone those extra loud ones by one day. Thanks!

'Twas the Day Before Surgery...

...And all through the house, everyone was sleeping, and I feel like a louse.
Tossing and turning, no sleep to be had, I start counting blessings and asking for more.
(I tried my best with this, it just wasn't coming together, so this is where I end my poetic dream)

We leave this afternoon for UVa. We have to pick Maureen up at the Charlottesville airport later today. It will be great to see her, I don't think I have seen her since July. The surgery is scheduled for tomorrow, and we need to be at the hospital at 11am. He gets the battery module implanted on the left side of his chest and the wires get connected to the electrodes on his brain. Definitely not as invasive as the last one, but this one he will be out for the entire time.

Thursday we will learn how successful this has been as he is scheduled to get "turned on" at 9am. I am hoping when we bring him home Thursday afternoon his daughter gets to see the daddy she never met, and his son the one he forgot was there. It could take up to a year to get the programming right, but I will be grateful for any relief he gets immediately.

Thank you all for your continued prayers, thoughts, and wishes. But, please, keep them coming this week!!!!

I will attempt to post as soon as I can tomorrow after the surgery, but if I can't tomorrow, it will be first thing on Wednesday.

Love to all...

Definitely Doing Better

Tim is really doing better. He just told me he is going to the grocery store - either he is feeling really better or is bored to tears :-) I'll take either as long as he isn't inside depressed!

He is getting ready for next week. He spoke to the nurse yesterday for the surgery on Tuesday. She told him that he will be getting glued back together after the implant - now I know some of you don't like the glue, however, if it doesn't work, they aren't going to let him leave with an open wound on the chest, so they will take care of it!

I am getting anxious for this next surgery and then the procedure to turn him on on Thursday. He was standing holding a bag of chips earlier today and it sounded like an earthquake in the bag. Poor guy is having a bad tremor day. Can't wait til these are a thing of the past, a distant memory, a "remember when" kind of thought...

Next week is fast approaching...

... Surgery #2 is next week already. YEAH! I think we will all be happy when this is over and he is all better. He is healing really well. His distorted face is gone and he is back to being my handsome man :-) Discoloration is gone on his face and working its way out of his head. The scars on the top of his head for the most part are healing well too. There is a small spot that needs more time.

For as weak as Tim was last week, he managed to get out shopping one afternoon and went out to lunch with his parents a couple of times as well. I want him to be all better - as I am sure he does. The more healed he is from this surgery, the easier the next one will be to get through.

He is a strong-willed man and is ready to get on with being done with the surgeries too.

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. I will update again as we get closer to next week, the actual surgery is on Tuesday the 9th. Love to all...