I’m happy to share that Shawn has successfully completed both surgeries as part of the RESTORE Stroke Clinical Trial.
The first procedure took place on December 4 and involved implantation of the deep brain stimulator into his cerebellum. One week later, on December 11, he underwent the second surgery to implant the battery pack under his clavicle, with leads connecting it to the DBS. Between the two procedures, Shawn now has three fairly large incisions—and the recovery has been no small thing.
He experienced significant pain for several days after each surgery and is still dealing with discomfort, though it does seem to be improving little by little each day. If you asked him right now for a review, his response would probably be: “Would NOT recommend.” And honestly, that’s fair. This part of the journey hasn’t been easy or pleasant. Still, we’re keeping our eyes on the bigger picture and holding onto a lot of hope that all of this will lead to meaningful improvements in his arm function in the months ahead.
As for what’s next: Shawn will return on December 30 for a repeat CT scan to confirm that everything is positioned correctly. He’ll then have a follow-up appointment with the surgeon on January 7. After that, the programming phase begins, which will require several separate visits. Once programming is complete, he’ll start therapy three times a week as part of the trial.
For now, though, our focus is simple—healing, resting, and recovering. We’re giving ourselves permission to slow down over the next few weeks and lean into the holidays, grateful to have made it through this major step and hopeful for what’s ahead.
Massachusetts Occupational Therapy Association Spring Conference
Big news! My proposal titled "Improving Acute Stroke Care Through Patient-Centered Communication, Early Rehabilitation and Advocacy" has been accepted for an oral presentation at the MAOT Spring Conference which will be held on March 21, 2026 at Western New England University in Springfield, MA. Registration opens in January and I will be sure to share a link for all OTs to sign up! Super excited to start to get the word out about improving patient and family experiences in acute care and how Medical Trauma is real and how it impacts patient care and outcomes.
I will be sharing more very soon about Medical Trauma and how it has led us to where we are today. Stay tuned!
Stroke Warrior Radio
I had my first radio interview on Stroke Warrior Radio - check the entire interview here! Was a fun experience and looking forward to our next conversation, where we will discuss the clinical trials!Navigating Stroke Recovery: Kelli Davis' Story of Advocacy, Hope and Resilience
Merry Christmas to all!
We are eager to spend some quality time with family and pets over the next few weeks as Shawn continues to recover and get stronger before the next phase of his trial. Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and Happy New Year!
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