Below: Philip Serio enjoys quality time with his son, James, and daughter, Leah.

Right: Hooman Azmi, M.D., chief of Movement Disorder Surgery,leads his team during a Deep Brain Stimulation surgical procedure.

15

Watching the clock and gaugingthe amount of time needed to functionin public, Philip Serio of Montvale,took his medication, headed out thedoor, and hoped for the best. “I mighthave an hour before I would needmore medication,” said Philip. “Onceit wore off, I couldn’t move at all. Iwould freeze.”

Philip worked hard to maximizehis ability to function daily. It became alosing battle as Parkinson’s disease tookover the lives of Philip and his family.For 12 years, his loved ones painfullywatched the life of this once vibrantman, who commuted everyday towork in New York City, progressivelyand horrifically diminish. He relied onseven different medications, six timesa day to get through the day and yet itfailed him.

“It was a real big effort for me tomove. I couldn’t stand up or keep mybalance. I always had to hold onto some-thing. I crawled – it was degrading,”said Philip. His sleep diminished whilethe tremors and shaking increased.Medi cations wore off quickly and side effects ramped up. Frequently,Philip’s body would stop moving altogether, at times dropping him to the floor, where he remained until help arrived. His children, Leah and James, witnessed the debilitation andhis inability to move as he was frozenstuck to the kitchen floor.

Then his life changed completely.Philip went to the Department of Neuro -surgery at Hackensack UniversityMedical Center (HUMC) where hemet Hooman Azmi, M.D., chief ofMove ment Disorder Surgery; AnthonyMarquinez, M.D., Department of Neur -ology; and Damon M. Fellman, M.D.,associate chief of the Department of Neurology.

“Parkinson’s patients depend onmedications. Without them, they can’tmove,” said Dr. Azmi, who specializesin the surgical treatment of movementdisorders. “Responsiveness to medica-tion may become unpredictable whensomeone has been on medication fora few years. Once Philip’s medicationstopped working, the disease becamevery disruptive for everyone. He wasan ideal candidate for Deep BrainStimulation (DBS) – a pacemaker forthe brain. The device delivers a therapywhich is very much like medication,except that it’s electricity. It is delivereddirectly to the areas of the brain respon-sible for movement, helping symptomsof conditions like Parkinson’s.”

DBS is done in two stages; the firstsurgical procedure takes about sixhours. While the patient is awake, twosmall holes are made in the skull – oneon each side of the head. Using anMRI and a CT, a target area is identi-fied and electrodes are placed in the brain. A week later, the electrodes

are connected by wires to the pace-maker device, known as an impulsegenerator. After a two-to-four weekrecuperation period, the pacemakeris turned on and adjusted in the office.Electrical impulses are continuouslysent from the device to the targetedareas improving movement disorders.

Two weeks after surgery, Philipmaneuvered his wheelchair into Dr.Marquinez’s office. It was nothing shortof a miraculous follow-up visit. Drs.Azmi and Marquinez turned on thestimulators and Philip did somethinghe never thought possible – he walked.

“I was amazed. Everything im -proved. I was wheeled in and I walkedout. I experienced instantaneousresults,” said Philip.

“Philip did really well. He has more control over his life now,” said Dr. Azmi.

For the first time in years, he wasable to do things he used to take forgranted. “Picking up my children anddriving to Dairy Queen. I missed thesetimes,” said Philip.

Philip credits his family and his surgical team for getting him througha very difficult period. “Without theircaring, love, and dedication, I wouldnot be here today. I recommend thesurgery to everyone who is consider-ing it. You can’t get anyone in the world to do it better than HUMC.”

HealthGrades®

One of America’s 50 Best Hospitals Three years in a row – The only healthcare facility in New Jersey, New York, and New England to be named to this prestigious list

HealthGrades®

Distinguished Hospital for Clinical ExcellenceRanked among the top five percent of hospitals in the nation for clinical excellence – seven years in a row

HealthGrades®

Specialty Excellence Awards™Cardiac Care • Coronary Intervention • Stroke Care • Gastrointestinal Care • Gastrointestinal Surgery • General Surgery • Joint Replacement •Orthopedic Surgery • Women’s Health • Bariatric Surgery

J.D. Power and Associates Recognizes HUMC for “Outstanding Outpatient, Inpatient, Cardiovascular, and Maternity Experiences”One of America’s few select hospitals honored with the designation and the first in New Jersey to become a Distinguished Hospital in four areas of care

Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals®

Cardiovascular Benchmarks for SuccessSix consecutive years

15 Gold Seals of Approval™ for Healthcare Quality from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)Only medical facility in the U.S. to achieve this record number of Disease-Specific Care Certifications: Acute Myocardial Infarction • Asthma • Bloodand Marrow Trans plan tation • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease •Coronary Artery Disease • Depression Program • Diabetes • End-StageRenal Disease • Heart Failure • Hip Replacement • Knee Replacement •Pediatric Asthma • Pneumonia • Primary Stroke Center • Trauma

Consumer Choice Award Recipient13 years since the award’s inception

U.S. News and World Report 2008 America’s Best HospitalsTop rankings in: Geriatrics • Gynecology • Heart and Heart Surgery • Neurology and Neurosurgery • Orthopedics

Magnet Award for Nursing from the American Nurses Credentialing Center

The second hospital in the nation and the first hospital in New Jersey to receive this designation

U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesMedal of Honor for Organ Donation

Three consecutive years

BEYOND Medical Spa is Spa Finder Award Recipient

Named One of the Top 10 Best Medical Spas in the World

American Alliance of Healthcare Providers “Hospital of Choice” Award

Five consecutive years

American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program

For demonstrating exemplary outcomes in two or more of the following SCIP/HAC related performancemeasures: DVT, Cardiac Respiratory, SSI, and UTI – three years in a row

New Jersey Business and Labor AssociationEnvironmental Quality Award for Excellence

Hospitals and Health Networks®

2008 Most Wired Hospital

10th National Ranking in a Row;the only hospital in the New York metropolitan area and one of six in the nation to have received this ranking annually since the award’s inception

The Chest Pain Center receives Full Cycle II Accreditation with PCI

Awarded by the Accreditation Review Committee of the Society of Chest Pain Centers

Nursing Professionals

Top 100 Hospitals to Work For

16

Quality Recognition2008

ONE OF AMERICA’S 50 BEST HOSPITALSTHE ONLY ONE IN NEW JERSEY,NEW YORK, AND NEW ENGLAND

THREE YEARS IN A ROW