Gayle's Story

“I just want to be in control”

Gayle Granat, of Farmington Hills, struggled with essential tremor for 18 years. Everyday activities, like writing, eating, getting dressed and applying makeup, were made difficult by the constant shaking in her hands.

A condition that had also affected her grandmother and her father, Gayle’s tremor started in her left hand, but years later also started to affect her right hand. Medication helped to some degree, but sometimes came with side effects.

So Gayle underwent a procedure called Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), where tiny electrodes are inserted into the brain and wired into a pulse generator that is implanted in the chest. When the generator is activated, electrical impulses are emitted and sent to the brain, which results in altered neurological functioning. In patients with essential tremor, this can help to greatly reduce shaking and provide patients with improved control.

Watch Gayle’s extraordinary journey undergoing DBS and achieving a welcome return to doing the everyday things that she loves.