Violinist Treats Doctors To Private Concert As She Plays Mozart During Brain Surgery

A violinist forced to give up playing because of a neurological condition treated doctors to their own private performance when she played them Mozart – during brain surgery.

Naomi Elishuv was forced to give up her career with the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra after being diagnosed with an essential tremor twenty years ago, causing her hands to tremble uncontrollably when she played her instrument.

But earlier this week, surgeons at the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center implanted apacemaker in the area of Elishuv’s brain responsible for the tremors – and asked her toplay during the procedure so they could assess the results.

Before the operation, Ms Elishuv was completely unable to play the violin because of her condition (Picture: המרכז הרפואי תל-אביב – איכילוב)

‘When we activated the stimulation in the exact location, we found that the tremor haddisappeared and Elishuv continued to play Mozart – with great emotion, but without the tremor or side effects,’ the hospital’s director of neurosurgery Yitzhak Fried told Haaretz.

‘I am so pleased that we had the opportunity to enjoy a private concert from a most talented and honorable musician.’

Although everybody experiences very minor tremors, an essential tremor is when the shaking becomes so severe that carrying out normal, everyday tasks become challenging. It is difficult to write, type or tie shoelaces – let alone play the violin.

Ms Elishuv was asked to play during the procedure so doctors could assess the effects on her tremors (Picture: המרכז הרפואי תל-אביב – איכילוב)

Deep brain stimulation – the surgery performed on Ms Elishuv – uses an electrode and simulator to block the nerve signals emitted from the part of the brain causing the essential tremor.

In a video of the operation, an ecstatic Ms Elishuv shouts ‘I have control!’ when she plays during the procedure.

She later told JNS that she was ‘finally returning to life.’

‘My greatest love was playing the violin, but unfortunately, until today, I have had to make do with teaching. My tremor prevented me from playing professionally, and this was very difficult for a woman such as myself, who was used to playing her entire life,’ he said.

Via - Metro.