Parkinson's Patient Back On Par (DBS - Mike Reitsma)

[Murray Charters <mcharters@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Parkinson's Patient Back On Par (DBS)
By BILL LAYE, CALGARY SUN - Fri, May 14, 2004

For Parkinson's patient Mike Reitsma, every golf game now is a gift from God -- 
and some pretty impressive medical
magic. "I can't walk (18 holes), but I can walk nine -- I couldn't do that last 
fall," said Reitsma, 60, who recently
underwent three operations to treat the disease.

Parkinson's is an as-yet incurable disease which attacks the brain's ability to 
communicate with other parts of the
body.

Before the surgery in January, the Calgarian, whose four children include 
Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Reitsma, told
his story to the Sun.

Since the surgery, which involved two operations to put electrodes deep into 
the centre of his brain and one to connect
the two to a sort of regulating pacemaker, he says he's got his life -- and his 
game -- back.

"It's almost as if I'd been born again, physically speaking," the retired 
pastor said yesterday while being checked out
at the University of Calgary's medical facility.

His doctor is also most impressed.

"He looks great," said University of Calgary neurosurgeon and researcher Zelma 
Kiss.

"At this point, he's off of his Parkinson's medications, so he's doing very 
well."

While she's quick to point out electrode stimulation therapy like this is being 
done on many centres these days, and
it's definitely not a cure, U of C researchers continue to make strides.

"It really has revolutionized the treatment of Parkinson's disease because 10 
years ago we didn't have a good
treatment," Kiss said.

SOURCE: Calgary Sun, Canada - Fri, May 14, 2004


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