This weekend (October 25 @ 9:00 ET), Greg Grindley, a 49-year-old man diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2004, will undergo a surgical procedure called deep brain stimulation (DBS). This is not uncommon for people with PD. What makes it unusual is that the two-hour operation will be broadcast live on the National Geographic Channel.
Let’s jump right to a quote from the People magazine exclusive (bolding mine):
The two-hour live special, titled Brain Surgery Live, will air in 171 countries and 45 languages. The surgical procedure, which will be filmed in real time with two handheld cameras as well as several robotic cameras connected to the surgical equipment, is used to treat different neurological symptoms – and commonly used to combat the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Greg will be fully awake and able to speak during the entire procedure in an effort to pinpoint the affected area of his brain.
I find it amazing that Greg will be awake during the procedure. If they wheel a TV set into the operating room, he could see himself – and his exposed brain – live on TV. Jeepers!
More power to Greg!
Here are some other terrific facts about his life:
- He and his wife met and married after he was diagnosed with PD.
- He and his wife started a feed-the-hungry food pantry at their church; the pantry now serves over 350 families every month.
- His wife claims that Parkinson’s has actually made her husband “a great man.” Which leads to a second quote from the People article:
“I honestly really think that Parkinson’s has made the man that I love,” she says. “He has an appreciation for life and those amazing special little moments that a lot of people just think is every day – stuff like playing cards at night with the kids.”
Look forward to an amazing special BIG moment in Greg’s life when National Geographic airs his brain surgery live this Sunday!
Click on the People Magazine link above, or here, to see a video interview with Greg.
