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A Year in Review 2012 – 2013:
Programs
Courage Lives Here
35
Krembil Neuroscience Centre
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Government assistance allows her to hire and train her
own attendants. It means the management of her care is
back in her hands.
Voice recognition software and an optical head mouse —
powered by a small box on the top of her computer
screen that tracks a reflective dot on the bridge of her
glasses — helped Pioro discover her talent for writing.
It even inspired her to pursue a certificate in Magazine
and Web Publishing from Ryerson University —
a program she completed in the spring of 2012.
It’s what led to her six-month internship as online editor
for
Chatelaine.
Each of these small things have been instrumental in
giving Pioro the chance to recover and live her own life.
“I’m grateful for being able to take back my indepen-
dence,” she said. “It has been a tough journey, but it’s
the little things like closeness with my family, which has
only deepened over the years, and the support from a
true circle of friends that have helped to make things
easier.”
Deep Brain Stimulation to treat Anorexia Nervosa
In a world first, Dr. Andres Lozano and a team of researchers announced that Deep Brain Stimulation
(DBS)
in patients with chronic, severe and treatment-resistant Anorexia Nervosa helps some patients
achieve and maintain improvements in body weight, mood, and anxiety. The research potentially
provides an additional therapy option for patients of chronic anorexia, and also furthers practi-
tioners’ understanding of this illness.
Saving patients hospital visits
Dr. Hans Katzberg conducted the first Canadian study on home-based intravenous immunoglobulin
(IVIG) treatment for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP), an
auto-immune disorder that causes swelling and inflammation of nerves. The study determined
it is safe and feasible to administer IVIG for maintenance therapy in these patients outside of
a hospital setting without compromising quality of care. The next step is to determine how this
program can work on a larger scale.
Expansion of limbal stem cell transplant program
Since starting the first comprehensive limbal stem cell transplant service in Ontario in 2010,
Dr. Allan Slomovic has seen the program expand. The limbal stem cell surgeons have performed
five limbal stem cell transplant procedures and 20 artificial corneal transplants to date. He hopes
to also establish a laboratory with the capabilities to grow stem cells from donated tissue.
Highlights
VIDEO:
Anorexia patient has groundbreaking surgery
Kim Rollins suffered from anorexia for most of her life, but recently, Deep Brain Stimulation, a procedure
involving brain surgery, helped her overcome the disorder.
(Video: UHN)
RELATED
:
“I’m grateful for being able to
take back my independence.”
–Carolyn Pioro
