4 CARDIAC SERVICES NEUROSCIENCES 5 “I have to exercise. It’s like a good addiction.” As far as Ed Jurvakainen is concerned, there’s no looking back. Following a cardiac bypass in February 2007, the then 63-year-old joined <strong>Evergreen</strong>’s cardiac rehab program and hasn’t slowed down since. “If I’d tried to make it on my own,” he says, “I wouldn’t have succeeded.” “It’s been worth every penny to fly here from my home in Nevada.” Charlene Lustig, known as “Charlie” to her family and friends and to the millions who’ve seen her on TV, knew she needed help when the revolutionary device designed to help alleviate the symptoms of her Parkinson’s disease suddenly left her unable to talk. Ed Jurvakainen “Charlie” Lustig Now in its 17th year, <strong>Evergreen</strong>’s rehab program stresses exercise and education to help patients recovering from a cardiac event lead a heart-healthier life. Patients enroll in the program shortly after they’re discharged from the hospital. The program meets three days a week for 75 minutes each day. Patients usually participate for four to 12 weeks, depending on their progress and health status. Each patient is assigned a case manager who works with their physician to design an individualized program based on specific needs. In addition to the formal exercise class, patients benefit from discussions of a variety of educational topics, including stress management, dealing with the emotional effects of recovery, heart disease risk factors, lifestyle changes and nutrition. They receive an educational manual at the beginning of class with all the materials that will be covered. “We run a clinic promoting wellness,” says Jeff Roberts, manager of <strong>Evergreen</strong>’s Cardiac Health Center. “We help people move forward. We say ‘Let’s take it from here and improve the quality of your life.’” nationally recognized program Ed Jurvakainen started exercising slowly, working on the stationary bicycle and treadmill before moving on to weight machines. Like Jeff Roberts everyone in his class of 10, he benefited from the expertise of a cadre of professionals – RNs, exercise physiologists, a nutritionist, a pharmacist and a mental health counselor – who helped make sure he was on the path to recovery. “Having a bypass, you’re scared before and after and don’t know what to expect,” Jurvakainen says. “<strong>Evergreen</strong> teaches nutrition and exercise and gets you on a program. Anybody who goes through a major cardiac event should do a cardiac rehab program.” Roberts agrees. “Our program and research show that people in cardiac rehab programs experience improvement in quality of life and well-being,” he says. In fact, the comprehensive rehab program is a key component in <strong>Evergreen</strong>’s being named one of the nation’s top 20 hospitals for heart attack survival rates by the U.S. government. Roberts likes to point out another advantage of rehab. “There’s a lot of camaraderie. It’s an inviting place for patients to share their feelings and fears and feel a part of a group. New patients can be reassured by the veterans. It’s a big part of their emotional healing, and we see less depression in our patients.” sticking with it Nearly 18 months after his bypass surgery, the lifestyle and exercise changes Ed Jurvakainen adopted in cardiac rehab have stuck. After finishing the <strong>Evergreen</strong> program, he joined a gym, where he works out five days a week, tallying four to six miles on the bike or elliptical machine. Now 30 pounds lighter, he says, “I have to exercise. It’s like a good addiction. I don’t feel good if I don’t do it.” For more information on cardiac rehab at <strong>Evergreen</strong>, please call 425.899.3770 or visit our Web site at www.evergreenhealthcare.org/ cardiac. Lustig’s struggle with Parkinson’s, and her deep-brain stimulation (DBS) surgery, were featured on ABC’s prime-time program Medical Miracles. During the surgery, a neurotransmitter – similar to a heart pacemaker – was implanted in Charlie’s brain. It delivers electrical stimulation to block the abnormal nerve signals that cause tremors and other Parkinson’s disease symptoms. But in order for the neurotransmitter to Sierra Farris, PA-C, MPAS work effectively, it must be programmed correctly – which can be a delicate balancing act. “It’s really an art,” explains Sierra Farris, “because there is no course work, no guide books, when it comes to DBS programming.” Farris, a physician’s assistant at the Booth Gardner Parkinson’s Care Center at <strong>Evergreen</strong>, is nationally recognized for her expertise with DBS programming. Working in partnership with movement disorders specialist Dr. Monique Giroux, Farris has seen more than 4,000 patients with Parkinson’s and has programmed more than 400 with DBS. She took it upon herself to learn everything she could from anyone she could – both in the United States and in Europe – and now uses that knowledge to offer a level of expertise not found anywhere else in the country. proper programming For Charlie Lustig, the DBS implant that was supposed to be a medical miracle had turned into a nightmare. After repeated programming attempts, Lustig lost the ability to speak and couldn’t move the left side of her body. Her doctors had told her there was nothing more they could do for her. Online research connected her with <strong>Evergreen</strong>’s Farris, who suspected that Lustig’s difficulties were the side effect of errant programming. Once Farris made the proper adjustments to both the DBS programming and her medications, Lustig improved dramatically. She regained her speech and regained movement on her left side. She is now seeing many of the positive improvements she expected to see from the DBS implant. “Every patient – every patient’s symptoms – are different,” explains Farris, who typically spends a week with a patient who’s experiencing problems, delving into why the DBS device isn’t relieving their Parkinson’s symptoms. “Sometimes, it all comes down to good detective work.” “She’s my medical angel.” “Sierra is remarkable,” Charlie Lustig enthuses. “I tell her she’s my medical angel.” Lustig now receives all her Parkinson’s care at the Booth Gardner Parkinson’s Care Center. “Everyone at the center is so focused on helping the patients. It’s been worth every penny to fly here from my home in Nevada.” Sierra Farris praises the center’s continuity of care. “Patients don’t see a different programmer every time they come to the clinic,” she points out. But even more important, Farris says, is the center’s “patients first” philosophy. “I credit our success to teamwork, respect and doing what’s best for the patient.” For more information on the Booth Gardner Parkinson’s Care Center, please call 425.899.3123 or visit our Web site at www.evergreenhealthcare.org/parkinsons.