Steadiness resumes

Luz is able to peel a cucumber for the first time in months

Armwrestling - Luz vs. Miguel - Luz won!

More pictures from Stanford Hospital

Following are pictures of Luz at Stanford Hospital (from the past month) and the wonderful staff who have supported her before, during and after her surgeries.

Luz steps onto the balance testing machine

Luz and Tracy checking steadiness of movement

Tracy manually checking Luz's balance

Dr. Sara Batya calibrates Luz's DBS stimulator

Luz speaking with her neurologist, Dr. Bronte-Stewart

Sunday hike - John y Luz

Today Luz walked with me for two miles along the shore of Lake Siskiyou She walked with endurance and at a pace I have not experienced with her for two years. Progress is happening.
Aloha - John

First week with DBS

Luz loved having the Khoury-Sergi and Joaquin-Chun families visiting us this past week.

Last Friday we spoke with Wendy Cole, the assistant to Neurologist Helen Bronte-Stewart, about Luz's first week experience with the DBS system turned on as initially calibrated. Luz has not significantly reduced her medications yet and has occasional walking problems and is impatient to feel herself normal again. To us she has vastly improved-steady, better walking speed, clearer and louder speech and wanting to do a lot even though she gets fatigued (she did have brain surgery after all). Wendy Cole said that her system settings are set low deliberately so that her body can gradually adjust. Her next appointment for review and recalibration is scheduled for May 5th and Wendy said that over time Luz be able to reduce her medications. Most people who have written about this stage of the process say it takes up to six months to experience the full potential of the DBS system.

Luz felt relieved (though patience did not increase substantially) after speaking with Wendy and we so appreciate the accessibility and responsiveness of everyone at Stanford who provides Luz with love and care.

Aloha everybody,
John

Visit to Shasta

(picture:
Luz and Secoya share a moment together)






Miguel, Sage, India & I just returned from a nice visit to Shasta. We found Luz to be well. Her eyes were bright, appetite good, and her spirit was shining. Her energy fluctuated up and down throughout the day. She is listening to her body during this recovery period, resting and taking naps as needed.

(picture: Jane and Luz on Thursday night)
The biggest difference we noted from the DBS is that Luz has less dyskinesis (involuntary movement) in her body. She can now sit still on the couch, hold a book to read, chop vegetables, cook, and walk more smoothly. The recovery process takes up to 6 months, so she may experience greater benefits from the DBS over time. John has reduced her medication, and is working to find an optimal balance with the meds and DBS where Luz feels the greatest benefits with the least number of symptoms/side effects. John will be sending more info soon.

Diana

President Obama presents...

his DEEP BRAIN STIMULUS PACKAGE!

... just in time for April Fool's Day. :)