Link to part one in the previous issue of VIRTUALITY

Editorial note: We continue with the personal day-by-day account of DBS surgery for Charlie Black from California:

Chapter 2
Bonnie and I got up at 4:30 a.m. to go to the hospital. Then the children woke up. As we left, after tearful goodbyes, I looked at their long, worried faces,. I have to admit, the thought did cross my mind that this might be the last time I will ever see them.

It was a quiet ride down to UCLA, an there was not much traffic on 405. We parked, walked to admissions, ,and signed in. They were expecting us, and the lady took us directly to pre-op. There we met our anesthesiologists, who gave the various anesthesia options available. I choose the "wake me when I'm needed" version. That is the last thing I remember until they woke me up to test the implanted electrode.

At the point of the electrode testing, this was awesome ! My doctor, at my request, had positioned a mirror overhead, so I could see everything. I got to see my own brain, which is pretty cool to me! The next thing I remember was waking up in the recovery room. The lady next to me woke up disoriented and combative., making it a most interesting recovery. Other than developing a very bad headache the night after surgery, I experienced no pain side effects.

While I remained in the hospital, the two days after the surgery were absolute heaven. NO Freezing! I could roll over in bed, and everything worked! I even slept well.

By Charlie Black