Glen's Fight Against Parkinson's
Donation protected
Five years ago, at the young age of 35, Glen's body stopped responding to what his brain wanted it to do. Glen and his wife, Rachel, headed to the doctor expecting the worst, questioning how to break any news to their seven-year-old, Sophia, waiting at home.
Glen was diagnosed with Early Onset Parkinson's Disease. Over the next five years, Glen and Rachel's lives would be flooded with doctors appointments, neurologist appointments, MRIs, and experimental treatments. Despite the new medicines offered, Glen's symptoms just got worse.
Last week (March 14th) Glen underwent a brain surgery know as Deep Brain Stimulation. A device is implanted and works in the brain similar to the way a pacemaker works for the heart. It was a long and stressful surgery, but Glen is recovering well! He has one more surgery next week (March 21st) to complete the process. The device will be turned on in about a month or two, after his brain fully heals from the surgerys.
The results, we hope, will be dramatic! He should lose his rigidness, regain motor function, increase mobility, and decrease or eliminate dozens of pills of medication currently taken each day. This will be an exciting change for Glen and Rachel and Sophia!
Along with the excitement and hope of this surgery offering Glen several years of happy and mobile living comes the stress of the medical bills to get to this point. The bills have already started piling up from the pre-op appointments and they will continue to come over the next several months of fine-tuning this treatment plan. Glen will also be off work for several weeks healing from this surgery. Any support you can offer this wonderful family would be greatly appreciated!
Glen was diagnosed with Early Onset Parkinson's Disease. Over the next five years, Glen and Rachel's lives would be flooded with doctors appointments, neurologist appointments, MRIs, and experimental treatments. Despite the new medicines offered, Glen's symptoms just got worse.
Last week (March 14th) Glen underwent a brain surgery know as Deep Brain Stimulation. A device is implanted and works in the brain similar to the way a pacemaker works for the heart. It was a long and stressful surgery, but Glen is recovering well! He has one more surgery next week (March 21st) to complete the process. The device will be turned on in about a month or two, after his brain fully heals from the surgerys.
The results, we hope, will be dramatic! He should lose his rigidness, regain motor function, increase mobility, and decrease or eliminate dozens of pills of medication currently taken each day. This will be an exciting change for Glen and Rachel and Sophia!
Along with the excitement and hope of this surgery offering Glen several years of happy and mobile living comes the stress of the medical bills to get to this point. The bills have already started piling up from the pre-op appointments and they will continue to come over the next several months of fine-tuning this treatment plan. Glen will also be off work for several weeks healing from this surgery. Any support you can offer this wonderful family would be greatly appreciated!
Organizer
Rhonda Nestrud DuCharme
Organizer
St. Paul, MN
