NHP man 2nd on LI to get tremor fix

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Prior to the treatment, Bocian was unable to complete simple tests that required drawing a straight line and drawing a line through a spiral without touching the walls.

Not only was Bocian able to complete both tests with ease minutes after his treatment, but he also held out his hands Wednesday, showing his right hand staying completely still.

Bocian underwent a non-surgery procedure — one his wife, Beth, found called “HIFU,” or high-intensity focused ultrasound.

The treatment, only available on Long Island at North Shore, lasted two hours and put Bocian in an MRI scanner before deploying highly focused sound waves that interacted with specifc brain tissue to eliminate tremors, leaving the surrounding areas intact and unharmed.

“Before this procedure became available, patients would have to rely on medication and/or surgery to help relieve their tremors,” said Dr. Albert Fenoy, director of functional neurosurgery. “When we met Murray, we knew he would be a great candidate for HIFU.”

Bocian said he was grateful for both the treatment and the staf at North Shore,

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but jokingly complained about needing to wait nine months before getting treatment on the right side of his brain to treat the tremors in his left hand.

“I wish I could back go in tomorrow,” Bocian said.

Bocian’s family is also appreciative of the work done at North Shore.

“We’re about to celebrate our 56th wedding anniversary in August,” said Beth, a retired Northwell nurse. “And this has afected us to the point that I couldn’t even hold my husband’s hand because of the shaking. Now, I see a lot more handholding in our future. We consider this to be a miracle.”