'When I started DBS, I wanted to do things again'

Melody Hagstrom credits the DBS procedure for giving her back her hobbies – including a flourishing garden

Melody Hagstrom, of Port Orchard, was a Financial Operations Manager before she retired. As a young adult, she managed a couple of flower shops for a grocery store and fell in love with flowers. To this day she keeps a garden and makes custom flower arrangements for family and friends' weddings. But the effects of Parkinson's disease began to make gardening – and the rest of her daily activities – a struggle.

Melody was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease nearly 20 years ago. The initial course of treatment for Parkinson's is medication, but eventually, even a high dose wasn't controlling Melody's symptoms enough for an active life, and she began to explore other options.

The deep brain stimulation (DBS) procedure seemed daunting at first, but in 2022, Melody went ahead with the treatment.

"Before DBS, I didn't do much," Melody said. "When I started DBS, all of a sudden, I wanted to do things again. I'm one heck of a gardener, and now I can work in the yard, stand all day, go bowling and boxing, and I even started with water aerobics."

DBS is a surgical procedure during which the surgeon places tiny wires, or electrodes, within critical areas of a patient's brain. The electrodes are controlled by a battery-operated neurostimulator, a device similar to a heart pacemaker that is surgically placed under the skin in the patient's chest. The device sends electrical stimulation to the electrodes placed in areas of the brain that control movement, effectively reducing the signals causing tremors.

"Brain surgery gives some people pause, but this kind of medical implant technology is a well-tested and standard part of health care," said Ryder Gwinn, MD, a neurosurgeon at the Eastside Neuroscience Institute. "And once the wires are in place, we have a very versatile tool that lets us treat each person's specific symptoms."

After the electrodes were surgically placed, Melody worked with DBS programming specialist Idil Baysal, ARNP, who sees DBS patients over the course of weeks or months to fine-tune the electrode frequency and treat their unique symptoms.

"Idil is wonderful," said Melody. "This process takes time, and she's incredibly patient. She knows my movements and takes the time to make it right."

"Melody is incredibly determined, willful, and strong, and it's been a pleasure to work with her," said Idil. "She has had significant improvement in her quality of life. The bravado Melody never fails to display inspires us all."

Now that Melody's Parkinson's symptoms are better controlled, she's back to her daily hobbies and enjoys traveling too. She's been to Italy, Cancun, Aruba, and the Greek Isles, and has no plans of slowing down.