Update: Switzerland, College, Thalamus

Here is a long delayed update for those of you who may be tuning in after several months.

College. College did not work out for Josh and it is all but certain that he is going back to high school to finish out his senior year. Too much freedom led to little work, cutting school, and failing classes. He will know his final grades soon, but, at this point, it does not look good.

Thalamus. Josh met with one of the world's leading neuroscientists at NYU in the summer and fall and the result is somewhat promising. The doctor, Rodolfo Llinas, has a groundbreaking theory that something called thalamocortical dysrhythmia is the root cause of some cases of epilepsy and other neurological conditions. Dr. Llinas, who is not a clinical physician but a researcher, gave Josh a MEG and found a focal point for his seizures. If you have been following Josh's case, then you know that is a real breakthrough in itself. Two surgeries, numerous EEGs and MRIs and tests were never able to pinpoint the focal point.

Switzerland. Dr. Llinas and Josh's surgeon at NYU put us in touch with a doctor in Switzerland, Daniel Jeanmonod, who is doing truly amazing, futuristic work that has not been approved in the U.S. In fact, it has not even been approved in Switzerland yet. He is conducting a clinical trial for non-invasive brain surgery to treat neurological conditions, including thalamocortical dysrhythmia. The process uses MRI-guided high intensity focused ultrasound to perform an ablation of the thalamus. We are hoping to visit Dr. Jeanmonod in Switzerland soon, but the procedure may not be available until 2012.

So, lots going on here. Try "Googling" this info, if you want to learn more. I've also put up some links on the right side of this Blog.