Gulf War vet faces brighter future
EMILY DENNIS
02 January 2009 11:42
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A Gulf war veteran who suffers from Parkinson's Disease is looking forward to a better 2009 with his family after undergoing a potentially life-threatening brain operation in a bid to give him a better quality of life.
Cliff Williams, 38, was the youngest person to have deep brain stimulation surgery at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge a few weeks ago.
The operation was fraught with risks and Mr Williams, from Attleborough, was delighted after neurosurgeons told him it had been a success.
He is now enjoying spending time with his wife Tracey and their four teenage children over the festive season.
The surgery involves the implanting of a medical device called a brain pacemaker which sends electrical impulses to specific parts of the brain. It does not cure the disease but can help manage some of its symptoms.
Mr Williams was serving in the Gulf as an engineer weapons technician in the RAF when he noticed a tremor in his hand. A year later he was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson's Disease, the same illness Hollywood actor Michael J Fox suffers from.
While medical experts are unable to provide answers as to how or why he got the progressive neurological disease, Mr Williams has blamed the anthrax injections and nerve agent pre-treatment he was given before deployment to protect him in the event of biological warfare.
After taking a daily cocktail of drugs to help keep his symptoms under control, he decided to have the operation in a bid for a better quality of life.
“The night before I didn't sleep at all,” he said. “But I am so pleased I went through with it and can now get on with my life.
“When the device was turned on I noticed an improvement immediately. The tremors stopped. It was an incredible and very weird feeling. So far my general, day-to-day handling of things is much easier, and walking is more comfortable now. The device can be adjusted as symptoms get worse and will hopefully give me 15 to 20 years without tremors.
“I was the youngest person to have the operation at Addenbrooke's and the quickest, leaving hospital in 48 hours. The team were fantastic. Now I can pretty much lead a normal life and I am positive about the future.”
Mr Williams has made contact with a man in Scotland called Bryn Williams who also suffers from the disease who is organising a series of sponsored walks to raise money for research. Cliff Williams will be taking part in one in East Anglia in August next year .
For more details visit www.wobblywilliams.com
Monday, January 5, 2009
Gulf War vet faces brighter future
