Deep Brain Stimulation Helps Mary Savanello with Essential Tremor Reclaim the Little — and Big — Things

Mary Savanello has always loved an active life — and she doesn’t take any part of it for granted. The little things, like putting on makeup, writing a note, or eating with a fork without spilling. And the big things, like watersports, racing cars and riding a motorcycle.

Essential tremor — the uncontrollable shaking of her hands and head — slowly took those joys away, making everyday tasks frustrating and eventually impossible. Today, after deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery, the shaking is gone, and Mary is back to doing what she loves.

Mary, 67, says her tremors began in her 20s.

“People would tell me to stop drinking coffee, but it wasn’t coffee causing the shaking,” she says.

What started in her hands eventually spread to her head and worsened over time. Eating became a challenge, and writing became nearly impossible.

“I couldn’t write legibly anymore,” Mary says. “If I needed to fill something out, I would lay paperwork on the table and wait for whoever stopped by to complete it for me. Contracts, leases, checks — I couldn’t read my own writing.”

About six years ago, Mary came to Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital in Port St. Lucie, where she met neurologist Hendrik Dinkla, MD. After testing, Dr. Dinkla confirmed she had essential tremor, a hereditary movement disorder that causes uncontrollable shaking of the hands, arms and other parts of the body. He prescribed medication, which initially helped, but as the tremors progressed, its effectiveness faded.

Reluctant to add more medications and concerned about side effects, Mary was open when Dr. Dinkla suggested deep brain stimulation surgery.

DBS involves implanting a small pulse generator under the skin near the collarbone. Wires connect the generator to electrodes placed in specific areas of the brain, delivering mild electrical signals that help correct abnormal brain activity. DBS is most commonly used to treat essential tremor, Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy.

Mary later met with Badih Adada, MD, a neurosurgeon at Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital and vice-chief of Cleveland Clinic’s Neurosciences Institute, who specializes in DBS.

“I took about a year to think about it,” Mary says. “I did my research, but I didn’t know anyone personally who had undergone the surgery.”

After meeting a friend of her sister‑in‑law who had DBS surgery at Cleveland Clinic for Parkinson’s disease, Mary felt confident moving forward. She underwent the procedure with Dr. Adada in March 2025.

Since having the surgery, the changes have been night and day for Mary. (Photos Courtesy: Mary Savanello)

Both phases of the surgery — implanting the electrodes in her brain and the generator in her chest — went smoothly. Her recovery was minimal, and the improvement was evident almost immediately.

“I can actually hold a fork and enjoy eating without spilling food all over myself,” she says. “I can write again. And I’m back to water sports and riding a motorcycle. I can do anything now.”

Mary describes DBS as truly life‑changing.

“This surgery is fantastic,” she says. “I would absolutely encourage anyone who’s a candidate to consider it. It’s well worth it.”

She adds that the care she received at Cleveland Clinic made all the difference.

“I felt very comfortable, and they were there for anything I needed,” Mary says.