A previous version of this story incorrectly named the surgeon who performed the surgery. It was performed by Dr. Andre Machado. Nicole LaBolle, who lives in Pleasantville, Pennsylvania, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at 28. Now 39, she decided to undergo deep brain stimulation surgery to treat her tremors and slow movements. The procedure, performed at Cleveland Clinic two-and-a-half hours away from her home, has drastically improved her quality of life. She still has symptoms, but she can now do more activities with her family. She wants to raise awareness about Parkinson’s disease, as many people are misdiagnosed like she was at first.
Vocabulary List:
6 words · tap to reveal
ON
AccentSpeed
Misdiagnosedadjective
Incorrectly diagnosed or identified.
Parkinson Diseasenoun
A progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement.
Deep Brain Stimulationnoun
A surgical treatment involving the implantation of electrodes in the brain.
Tremorsnoun
Involuntaryrhythmic muscle movements.
Quality of Lifenoun
The general well-being of an individual or societyincluding healthhappinessand satisfaction.
Awarenessnoun
Knowledge or perception of a situation or fact.
