Blog

One Year Post DBS

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:08:00 -0400

Well a year has passed since my DBS of October 20th of 2008. I have been able to enjoy the little things again and that is nice. Like walking through the park without the fear of "lazy leg" creeping up on me. Or waking up in the a.m. with the "Tim Conway" shuffle is NO MORE (you fellow PDers know what I mean). My daily regiment of meds has been decreased which has allowed me to gain ALL of my needed weight back...I actually am beginning to get a pudge belly and love handles as I like to call them...lol! I took our dog for a 10 minute walk today so that was nice. Who knows what the future holds but thank God for the past year and for what he has planned! Thanks to all of my friends and family. KeeptheFaith....Darien

Golf Tournament Success!

Sun, 09 Aug 2009 18:38:00 -0400

THANKS TO ALL THAT HAD A HAND IN OUR FIRST ATTEMPT TO RAISING MONEY FOR DBS PATIENTS THIS WEEKEND! A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO SCOTT STONE WHO MADE IT HAPPEN! WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YA'LL!

KEEP THE FAITH

April 1

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:25:00 -0400

Well, I am a little over 5 months post DBS and I am very pleased with the success of the surgery. And that my friend is not an April fools joke!

April is a HUGE month for Parkinson's Awareness so what better way to kick it off than to watch Michael J. Fox this morning on Good Morning America! He is a great inspiration to us all. Thank you Mr. Fox for leading the way to a cure!

The Darien Smith Foundation has its first Annual PD concert this month on the 25th. We are very excited about that event. Come on out and support the cause. Check the site for more details.

You can find more PD events on my Facebook page so just stop by and check them out!

KeeptheFaith

Darien

Jan 10th Event Postponed until April

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:16:22 -0500

The First Annual Darien Smith Foundation Parkinson's Benefit has been pushed back again folks. We are determined to get it up and going so bare with us as we overcome some obstacles. I promise we will make it happen with God leading the charge.

Many thanks go out to my cousins down in South Florida and in the Atlanta area, not to mention all of my friends and family that have supported, encouraged, and prayed for my family and me for the last almost 6 years. My recent DBS surgery has been a success and without that support net, it could not have been as successful.

Faith is something that you grasp onto because you believe in Jesus Christ. Where there is Faith, you'll find Hope...Where there is Hope, you'll find Life...Where there is Life, you'll find Christ.

HE wants us to have LIFE with HIM. Have Faith in Him.

Until we meet again...

KTF1296

HE wab

Laughter....it says it all

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 20:14:53 -0500

Recently I was sent a youtube airing of a guy's laughter. This was my reaction after about the 5th time listening to it. It is hilarious.

Hey, that's my brain you are messing with!

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 10:02:48 -0400

Monday a.m. was a time of reflection and hope. My wife, mom, and myself were headed down to Emory University Hospital to begin our 12 hour day. We would have some laughs on the way down and share some music interpretations as we fast forwarded through stations. It had been about a 35 minute commute down to the hospital that morning, thanks in large part to my wife driving like Mario Andretti to get us there on time.

Once we got there, we would find the valet parking area; the same area that we parked approximately 13 years ago, when my mom had her "heart transplant". Amazing ey? Well, we headed to the third floor, 3F Same Day Surgery, signed in and waited. Not long after that I was being lead to the room where my headset would be placed on my head by Mrs. Smith. She is an interesting lady and full of zeal. She liked me calling her my "Aunt Carolyn" I think.

Not too much longer, I was being chartered off to MRI with the head gear on. I had no idea what I looked like, so when I got the first opportunity to see my reflection in the window of the MRI room, I realized that a child would think I'm some kind of monster from "Monster's Inc.". Nevertheless, I pressed on and completed my MRI.

Next stop, the O.R. For those of you not "up" on the lingo, that is "Operating Room". It was there that I would experience something I'll never forget.

Let me back up for a second. Back in 3F, I was introduced to Jennifer Steevo, "JSteve", she would become. She was right there the whole time in the O.R. I don't know what I would have done without her.

One of the first things the doctor did was shave my front half of my scalp. The back half was left to deal with once I got home. The medical team worked diligently and politely throughout the whole surgery, and for that I am grateful. After many tests and retests, the doctors nailed down a couple of areas that were tagged inside my skull to initiate the programming that will occur on 12/1/08.

More to come...

KTF1296

GOD PROMPTS ARE REAL

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:54:06 -0400

I woke up today, just like any other day, not knowing what was to come my way. I feel like God is opening a door for me and my family, I just don't know where it is going to take us yet.

You see, this DBS may help me be able to return to the workforce again...maybe not in the same type of job but a job that God has in his plans for me to do. Let's just say, I felt prompted to do something today and we'll see what happens...I'll keep you posted...

On top of that I'm getting this feeling to do what is necessary to speak to the local middle school about YOPD so I call up the department over health in our county and she is going to let me know something as well...I may end up speaking to the highschool as well. WOW!

I guess I'm trying to say, "LISTEN TO WHAT GOD IS TRYING TO TELL YA TO DO, AND GO ON FAITH"....GOD PROMPTS ARE REAL!

KTF1296

Finding Peace

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:34:39 -0400

Turn toward peace

Peace is not a circumstance. Peace is a feeling, a powerful, wonderful and desirable feeling.

Peace does not depend on any particular set of conditions. It can be any place, at any time.

Remember how peace feels. And by so remembering, you make yourself available to peace.

Peace is what remains when you've surrendered your ego and your fears. Peace is always there, patiently waiting for you to turn your awareness toward it.

The same part of you that longs for peace is the part of you that experiences peace. It is not complicated and is as close as your next thought.

Think lovingly of how peace feels to you. And truly be at peace.

-- Ralph Marston

DBS Status

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:19:16 -0400

The week ended with having completed my evaluations and tests. Upon meeting with my neurosurgeon, Dr. Gross, he is going to do bilateral DBS since both sides have been effected by my PD.

We had a great visit with him and feel really at ease around him. The only "draw back" is He's a Yankees fan...lol. Hey, I'll wear a Yankees cap, jersey, whatever, if it came down to it!

We're looking at sometime within the next 60 to 90 days before the surgery will take place.

See ya next time...

KTF1296

Step One of DBS in 9 hours

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:29:04 -0400

The time has come for my DBS process to begin. Tomorrow I will meet with Ann Sollinger, Ph.D. for a neuropsychological evaluation. To make sure I am psychologically ready for such an undertaking.

On Wednesday, I am scheduled to see Shirley D. Triche, N.P., for a pre-operative education session, completion of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating scale (both off and on me meds), and a preoperative videotape.

Later that day, I will have a MRI done of my brain, of course.

On Thursday I should meet the nuerosurgeon team and complete my psychiatric screening as well.

The time is drawing closer for the beginning of the rest of my pd life.

KTF1296