For Murray Bocian, the aftermath of a groundbreaking procedure to eliminate essential tremors means a triumphant return to life before drinking from a sippy cup and a straw.
Mr. Bocian, 76, of New Hyde Park, was the second patient to undergo high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH), the only facility on Long Island where the incisionless brain procedure is currently available.
Essential tremor is a nervous system disorder that causes shaky extremities, most often in the hands. Such notable figures as Katherine Hepburn and Eugene O’Neill suffered from essential tremors, which affect nearly 10 million people in the U.S. and is eight times more common than Parkinson’s disease. For Mr. Bocian, a retired program manager, this meant dealing with the inability to conduct even the simplest activities of daily life.
On May 11, Mr. Bocian underwent the 2 ½-hour procedure that uses ultrasound waves to treat essential tremors. At a press conference held at the hospital that reunited Mr. Bocian with his medical team, Albert Fenoy, MD, director of functional neurosurgery at NSUH, explained the life-altering science behind the physical transformation.
“During the procedure, and while fully awake, Mr. Bocian was placed inside an MRI scanner with his head positioned in a frame to prevent movement,” Dr. Fenoy said. “The very high-intensity and highly focused sound waves interact with targeted brain tissue to destroy the tremor-causing tissue, leaving surrounding areas intact and unharmed.
“Before this procedure became available, patients would have to rely on medication and/or surgery to help relieve their tremors,” said Dr. Fenoy. “When we met Murray, we knew he would be a great candidate for HIFU.”
Prior to HIFU, Mr. Bocian was unable to complete a simple test that required him to draw within a circle or even a straight line. Following the HIFU session, he was able to successfully complete the test.
“For me, it’s nothing short of a miracle,” said Mr. Bocian. “I inherited these tremors from my mother. It started about 30 years ago, but for the last five years it’s been increasingly difficult. I couldn’t eat or drink without spilling – I had to rely on a baby’s sippy cup because I couldn’t hold on to a glass.”
Just hours after the procedure, Mr. Bocian noticed an immediate improvement. His son, Daniel Bocian, a member of the NYC Fire Department, said that he’s looking forward to enjoying more physical activities with his father and his own young children.
It was Beth Bocian, who retired from her position as a Northwell nurse 12 years ago, who first learned about HIFU after reading an article on the Internet. She said that it’s almost impossible to describe how essential tremors affect not only the patient but the entire family as well.
“We’re about to celebrate our 56th wedding anniversary in August,” said Mrs. Bocian, “and this has affected us to the point that I couldn’t even hold my husband’s hand because of the shaking. Now, I see a lot more hand holding in our future. We consider this to be a miracle.”
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