Neurosurgeon stops CTV interview after spotting cameraman's tremors. He diagnosed and cured something he had suffered since he was 16
Some health conditions can severely affect a person's quality of life. A cameraman from CTV News, Kirk Neff, had been suffering from essential tremors since he was 16 years old and it not only affected daily tasks, but was also detrimental to his profession as a camera person. The condition causes uncontrollable shaking when a person tries to perform any fine-motor task. As his condition was progressively getting worse, he risked losing the work he loved. But then things changed during an interview with a world-renowned neurosurgeon, per CTV News.
"When I was 16 years old, I noticed that I had these little shakes. I didn't really know what it was, but I started taking pills and they gave me stuff for it and it never really worked," Neff shared. As the condition got worse, it was getting harder for the man to do his work and it was weighing on him a lot. "It takes a lot out of you. So not only are you shaking, but your mind’s working 24/7…not only on what you're doing, but working on trying to keep your hands straight." His colleagues had noticed the tremors getting worse, too. It wasn't just work; eating and performing other everyday tasks were also difficult for Neff. As a part of his job, the man would also put a mic on the guests.
Although the task was a source of difficulty for the man, it also became a turning point for him. The channel had Dr. Mojgan Hodaie, a well-known neurosurgeon, as a guest. When he went ahead to put a mic on her, she noticed his tremors and gave him a lifeline. The doctor told Neff, "I can fix that." Before that, the man had tried to find the reason behind his tremors and to get treated, but nothing worked. Neff had a five-hour operation to put an electrode in his brain, according to the outlet's YouTube video. The same would help control the involuntary shaking in his body. The man held up a cup of hot beverage and drank from it. He explained that such a thing wouldn't have been possible for him before without spilling the beverage.
A couple of weeks later, the doctor started the current that would help stop the shaking. Neff would also be able to control the currents by himself through a phone at some point, according to the outlet. The man met the neurosurgeon some time after the procedure. She asked him about the impact the procedure had on his life. "You saved my life. You saved my career," Neff told the doctor as he broke down in tears. "I hate being emotional like that, but you saved my career." He added, "I probably wouldn't have lasted the next five years. It was getting worse and you saved it." The procedure had been performed on the man's left hand and would possibly be performed on his right side by the end of this year.
People celebrated Neff's big moment in the comments section of the video. @bkim7000 wrote, "Incredible, I'm so happy for him! Meeting that doctor was a truly magical event! Someone's looking over him!" @MCC-q2q commented, "Must love science! Amazing procedure, amazing human beings. Enjoy the rest of your career, Mister!" @Spike-ctj remarked, "I'm delighted for him. Not having control of your hands affects every function we perform. It must have been so exhausting and frustrating. I hope the second surgery goes as well."