In a groundbreaking moment that combined science, music, and courage, 65-year-old Denise Bacon from Crowborough, East Sussex, played her clarinet while undergoing brain surgery for Parkinson’s disease. The remarkable procedure not only demonstrated the precision of modern neurosurgery but also provided an extraordinary example of how deep brain stimulation (DBS) can restore movement and hope to those living with degenerative neurological conditions. For Denise, a retired speech and language therapist and passionate musician, the ability to once again play her beloved instrument symbolized more than medical success—it was the reclaiming of a vital part of her identity.
A Musician’s Battle Against Parkinson’s Disease
Denise Bacon’s journey began more than a decade ago, when she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2014. Like many who receive this life-altering diagnosis, she faced a gradual decline in her physical abilities. Parkinson’s, a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement, develops as the brain’s dopamine-producing cells degenerate, leading to symptoms such as tremors, rigidity, slowness of movement (bradykinesia), and postural instability.
For Denise, these symptoms crept into her daily life in ways that were both subtle and devastating. Once a vibrant member of the East Grinstead Concert Band, she had to put down her clarinet five years ago as her fingers stiffened and her control weakened. Tasks that once came effortlessly—walking, swimming, dancing, or playing music—became increasingly difficult. Over time, her world narrowed as her independence eroded, a familiar experience for many Parkinson’s patients.
Yet Denise refused to surrender her spirit. When her medical team at King’s College Hospital suggested deep brain stimulation (DBS) as a possible treatment, she agreed. The surgery, though complex and demanding, offered her a chance to regain some of what Parkinson’s had taken away. Her decision to undergo the procedure was as much about hope as it was about resilience.
Deep Brain Stimulation: A Symphony of Science and Precision
Deep brain stimulation is among the most advanced surgical treatments available for movement disorders like Parkinson’s. The procedure involves implanting thin electrodes into specific regions of the brain that regulate movement. These electrodes deliver controlled electrical impulses to disrupt abnormal neural signals that cause tremors and stiffness. The stimulation is generated by a small pulse device implanted in the patient’s chest, connected by fine wires running under the skin.
Performed by Professor Keyoumars Ashkan, a leading neurosurgeon at King’s College Hospital, Denise’s operation was carefully planned to the finest detail. “Holes half the size of a five pence piece were made in Denise’s skull after a frame with precise coordinates was placed on her head, acting as a sat nav to guide us to the correct positions within the brain to implant the electrode,” Prof Ashkan explained.
During the four-hour surgery, Denise remained awake under local anaesthetic—a requirement for many DBS procedures. By keeping patients conscious, surgeons can monitor real-time responses and fine-tune electrode placement with extraordinary accuracy. In this instance, Denise’s participation took an exceptional turn: she brought her clarinet into the operating theatre.
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As the electrodes were implanted and electrical stimulation began, an immediate transformation occurred. Her right hand, previously rigid and uncooperative, suddenly regained fluidity. When the current was applied to the left side of her brain, her right-hand fingers responded instantly, moving freely for the first time in years. Moments later, the process was repeated on the opposite side of her brain, producing equally dramatic results.
A woman has played the clarinet during brain surgery at London's Kings College Hospital to help her manage her Parkinson's symtoms. pic.twitter.com/AJpJzmH8zS
— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) October 21, 2025
The surgical team encouraged Denise to play her clarinet, which had long been her passion and, more recently, her greatest loss. To everyone’s astonishment, she began to play—smoothly, confidently, and with visible joy. The improvement was both audible and visible, a living demonstration of how DBS could restore not only movement but meaning. “We were delighted to see an instant improvement in her hand movements, and therefore her ability to play, once stimulation was delivered to the brain,” Prof Ashkan said.
The Return of Music and Movement
For Denise, the success of the operation was deeply personal. Playing the clarinet again was not simply a technical feat—it was a return to self-expression, rhythm, and creativity that Parkinson’s had gradually stolen from her. “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,” she said after the surgery.
Her results extended beyond the operating table. In the days following the procedure, Denise reported marked improvements in her ability to walk and perform other daily activities. She expressed eagerness to return to swimming and dancing—two activities that had once defined her active lifestyle. With the DBS device implanted in her chest, featuring a rechargeable pulse generator that can last up to 20 years, she is now equipped with a long-term therapeutic tool capable of adjusting stimulation levels as needed.
This next-generation DBS system doesn’t simply deliver static electrical pulses; it monitors brain activity in real time and adapts stimulation accordingly. Such personalized treatment ensures that patients like Denise can maintain optimal symptom control without excessive energy use or side effects. For many people with Parkinson’s, DBS represents the closest thing to regaining normalcy—allowing them to move, speak, and live more freely.
Denise’s surgery, while extraordinary in its musicality, also highlights the collaborative nature of modern medicine. Neurosurgeons, neurologists, anesthesiologists, and neurophysiologists all worked in harmony, guided by sophisticated imaging technology and real-time feedback. The moment Denise began to play during surgery was not only symbolic but profoundly instructive. It provided instant proof of the brain’s responsiveness to stimulation and confirmed that the electrodes were positioned with precision.
For decades, deep brain stimulation has evolved from a high-risk experimental procedure into a refined and evidence-based therapy. As Prof Ashkan emphasized, “Deep brain stimulation is one of the most effective, evidence-based and long-lasting therapies to control the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, improving tremor, stiffness and slowness of movement. Modern advances in DBS technology are now allowing us to personalise the therapy to the needs of our patients, with a positive impact on their quality of life.”
Redefining Hope Through Neuroscience
Denise Bacon’s story has resonated far beyond the medical community because it captures the extraordinary intersection of human resilience and scientific innovation. Parkinson’s disease affects more than 10 million people worldwide, with symptoms that progressively diminish independence and confidence. While medications such as levodopa can help control symptoms for a time, their effectiveness often wanes, leaving patients searching for alternatives. DBS has emerged as a powerful option for those whose symptoms are no longer adequately managed by medication alone.
Yet, beyond its technical sophistication, the therapy’s emotional and psychological benefits are equally profound. Denise’s operation demonstrated that restoring mobility also restores a sense of dignity and identity. For her, the clarinet is not just an instrument but a voice—one that Parkinson’s tried to silence. Playing it again, even in a sterile operating theatre, was a deeply symbolic act of triumph.
The image of a 65-year-old woman playing a wind instrument while neurosurgeons fine-tune electrodes in her brain encapsulates what modern medicine can achieve: it bridges the gap between art and science, between fragility and strength. It reminds us that treatment is not only about survival but about the quality of living—about dancing, swimming, creating, and, in Denise’s case, making music again.
The implications of her surgery extend far beyond her individual recovery. It opens discussions about how patient-centered approaches can personalize treatment outcomes. By encouraging patients to actively participate during awake procedures, surgeons can immediately assess therapeutic success in meaningful, functional terms. For musicians, artists, and performers, this personalized feedback can be transformative, ensuring that surgical interventions directly align with their life goals.
In addition, her case underscores the importance of technological progress in neurology. Rechargeable stimulators, adaptive algorithms, and improved imaging systems are making DBS safer, longer-lasting, and more effective than ever before. With continued research, future versions of these devices could become even more responsive, adjusting automatically to a patient’s daily needs, activity levels, and symptom fluctuations.
For now, however, Denise Bacon’s success story stands as a beautiful harmony between human courage and scientific achievement. It is a story that has inspired countless others living with Parkinson’s, proving that even when faced with one of life’s most challenging diagnoses, there remains room for optimism, progress, and joy.
When Denise lifted her clarinet to her lips in that operating theatre, she was not just playing notes—she was reclaiming her rhythm, her confidence, and her life. Each sound that filled the room was a testament to what is possible when innovation meets determination, and when the will to live fully triumphs over the limitations of disease.