The day they turned on my D.B.S.

I still remember the day all the pain and surgeries finally paid off. It was mid-May, 2024, and I was still rocking my crazy haircut, and the lumps in my head where the implants were installed were healing up nicely. The pain in my shoulder was still there, and my left leg was still dragging as I walked. Additionally, my left arm still hung when I walked instead of the normal swinging motion. I was definitely hoping for a miracle when they finally turned on the DBS.

Before they turned the system on, they had me perform a series of tests. They had me walk, stop and turn around, move my hands, tap my feet, all the simple things that, amazingly, I wasn't able to do with any fluidity. I tell you what, it really sucks to watch your hands not being able to turn palm side up to palm side down without one of them stopping or jittering badly.

The time had come. They opened up a laptop, told me they were connected via Bluetooth to the system, and asked if I felt anything. Honestly, I didn't. A few more taps on the keyboard, and I could feel the muscles and tension FINALLY let go. Imagine taking a big deep breath in and relaxing as it is let out. That's kinda what it felt like.

A few more taps on the keyboard.

Then they asked me to get up and try walking again. That was when I felt it, Oh My God! I had my body back! I could walk like I used to years ago. No dragging left leg, my arm swung like normal, I could stop and turn again without taking several little old man steps to turn around. I was moving like a normal person again. I remember I started crying because I felt like I was alive again! There was no big zap, no big crescendo, just simply felt my body come back. Simple small movements like being able to tap my thumb to my fingertips (think of the DUI test) that just minutes before were not even close to being capable of, now I could do it just like a normal (not drunk) person could.

After a few hours, I remember feeling the pain in my right shoulder leaving. That by itself was worth everything.

I decided then and there that I wouldn't take my health for granted, and that I would live life making memories.