On a chilly Thursday in December, Nick Pernisco woke up from his Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery with a few new holes in his head -- and a whole new lease on life with Parkinson's.
In the follow up to his best-selling Parkinson's Warrior: Fighting Back and Taking Control, Nick takes you on an intimate, first-person journey through the full DBS experience. With candor and humor, Deep Brain Stimulation: A Journey to Relief offers inspiration and accessible information on what you need to know about DBS, what to expect along each step of the way, and the renewed possibilities for life after DBS.
If you or your loved one is considering DBS, but you're unsure, or scared, or just want to know more, this book is for you.
From the Introduction
On December 6th, 2018 I underwent Deep Brain Stimulation surgery to alleviate the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease. My first symptoms had appeared in 2009, so it was almost exactly nine years later that I would go under the drill and knife to get some relief. I had some apprehension at first - I mean, it's brain surgery - but I'm glad I went through with it. Although DBS was not a cure for Parkinson's, the surgery set back the clock on my symptoms about 10-12 years.
In this sequel to the original Parkinson's Warrior book, I detail the circumstances that lead me to consider Deep Brain Stimulation, the essential details about what the surgery does and how it works, and a first-hand account of my own surgery. Just like in the original Parkinson's Warrior book, I pull no punches. I give you every detail, no matter how frightening it might sound. My hope is that, after reading this book, Deep Brain Stimulation won't sound so frightening. The reason I wrote this book is to demonstrate that an option exists to alleviate Parkinson's symptoms, and that people with Parkinson's do not have to lose hope when their symptoms worsen. I had Deep Brain Stimulation surgery to give me time to live my life more normally until a cure for Parkinson's is discovered. The second part of this book involves my life after DBS surgery. I discuss some expectations I had about the surgery, how I felt after surgery, and how having a Warrior mentality helped me adjust to a new normal. I hope this second section will inspire you and make you think about your life, remembering that we only get one shot at life, so we better make the most of it. Finally, I hope that by reading this book, you will consider having DBS. It's brain surgery, but it's not so scary, and it will absolutely change your life. I've gotten my life back thanks to DBS, and so I'm happy to sing its praises from the rooftops. I look forward to you joining me on this journey as I recount my story. And please, if you ever have any questions or need guidance to help find the right information for you, write to me since I'd love to hear from you: nick@parkinsonswarrior.com.
Author Biography:
In 2011 Nick Pernisco was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease - a disease typically affecting those over 60 - at age 33. After enduring a prolonged period of depression, he found a way to move beyond his grief and fight back by taking control of his disease and is using his experiences to educate and advocate for others. From this mission, he has created several resources to help others living with Parkinson's. The Parkinson's LifeKit app is used by thousands of people with Parkinson's around the world to help them take control by tracking symptoms and fitness, managing medication, and more accurately reporting on their condition to their doctors. Parkinson's Warrior was launched as a news and resource website in 2018, and has since become the platform to publish books and other media, and has spurred a Facebook support group, all of which serve as guides to adopting a Warrior Mindset to take control of each day and each battle in pursuit of an improved quality of life. In 2018, after years of disease progression and failing medications, Nick decided to have Deep Brain Stimulation surgery to help ease the symptoms of the disease. Since then, Nick's quality of life has improved significantly. Though not a cure, it has changed the way he lives his life and has changed his views on life in general. In addition to being an author, app developer, and advocate, Nick is also a media studies professor. He has lived in Buenos Aires, Los Angeles, Seattle, Amsterdam, and most recently, New York, where he lives with his wife and two cats.
