Parkinson's disease patient plays clarinet during surgery

(NewsNation) — A woman with Parkinson's disease played the clarinet while undergoing brain surgery to help manage her symptoms.

According to a news release from King's College Hospital, Denise Bacon, 65, was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2014 and started experiencing symptoms such as muscle stiffness and slow movement, which affected her ability to walk, swim, sing, dance and do her favorite hobby: Play the clarinet.

More than 10 million people are estimated to be living with Parkinson's disease worldwide, according to the Parkinson's Foundation.

Doctors at King's College Hospital performed a procedure called Deep Brain Stimulation, which allows surgeons to implant electrodes into a person's brain. Once implanted, the electrodes are connected to a pulse generator, similar to a pacemaker, which delivers impulses to modify brain activity and reduce Parkinson's symptoms.

Bacon was told to bring her clarinet for the surgery so doctors could monitor her symptoms throughout the four-hour procedure. While playing the clarinet, doctors were able to see improvement in the use of her fingers, making the surgery a success.

"I remember my right hand being able to move with much more ease once the stimulation was applied, and this in turn improved my ability to play the clarinet, which I was delighted with," Bacon said in the statement.

She added she also has much greater ease in being able to walk, and is excited to get back into swimming and dancing.