Lucky Man: A Memoir

by Michael J. Fox

“The goal of the operation is to disable the brain cells responsible for the tremor. The target is deep in a part of the brain called the thalamus—an area about the size of a walnut that controls body movement. We're looking for a particular structure within the thalamus which is responsible for the tremor—the VIM nucleus, a group of cells approximately two millimeters in diameter. “You'll be brought into the O.R. and a metal frame, or halo, will be fastened to your head with small screws. During the procedure, the frame itself will be bolted to the operating table so you won't be able to move your head around. Just as important, the frame helps us guide our instruments. “You'll be sedated while this happens, with liquid valium, so you won't remember much, but you'll be awake. In fact, we need you to be conscious throughout the whole surgery, to answer our questions; that's an integral part of the operation, helping us confirm that we're where, in your brain, we want to be. “Once the frame's on, but before it's bolted to the table, we wheel you out of the O.R. to the Magnetic