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My childhood is filled with wonderful memories that will live on through my children all because of a woman and man who knew what they were doing was right—in love, teaching, and discipline. I grew in countless ways.
They are also very much responsible for helping me on the sleepless nights, in times of tears and triumph, sitting up all night by my hospital bed wondering what they could do to comfort me. For your greatest actions as well what some may consider small—by simply putting a cold cloth on my face or head—I cherish you both.
Your thoughts, actions, and unselfishness will always speak volumes in my mind. I will never be able to fully imagine how much you sacrificed day and night to ensure that I was safe and loved.
I will forever be indebted to your sacrifices and will try to offer you the same as our lives and relationships have only grown closer as we’ve moved forth. You will always be my heroes—the ones who had the healing hands, the comforting words, all the while helping me to become a better person.
Next, my brother, Steve. For watching out for my best interests when you needed to make your own strides, I am so grateful. You’ve helped to shape my mind and my worldly views as well as mold me into someone who understood the often underestimated value of integrity.
You provided me your shoulder more times than I can count. And on that shoulder I cried, rested, and rejoiced. Never asking for anything in return has always been a hallmark that allows me to see you as a wonderful man and father—going the extra mile to ensure stability and safety for those around you.
You’ve always been more than a brother. You’ve been my longtime mentor, teacher, healer, sounding board, and source of rational thought in times of turmoil. Your willingness to understand Tourette Syndrome allowed me to find inner strength that I didn’t know I had, simply because I knew you were in my corner. You’ll always have my love, admiration, respect, and never-ending thanks for all you are and continue to be.
To my wife, Debra—my rock, my lifeline, and my best friend—for your sacrifices and ability to see the inner core of me during my difficult trials and tribulations with Tourette’s, I thank you. You’ve given me strength in times of utter despair. You rescued me from wandering into no-man’s land and supported me as a man who had so much to give but without a path to follow.
You’ve given me beautiful children and have always made sure our family comes first. You carried my heart, soul, body, and mind through the darkness of fear and safely set me down once you knew the storm had passed and the sun was rising.
Know that you changed my life forever. I don’t know how to repay you other than to let you know that I start each day with a prayer of thanks for all you’ve done. Each day is a new journey with you and I look forward to so many more healthy and tremendous adventures. As we watch our children grow, I ask you to stand by my side and enjoy the wonderful gifts we are so blessed to receive knowing firmly how much my heart belongs to you.
I want to send a very special thank-you to my children, Chris, Andy, Bonnie, and Mike. You’re a constant reminder of the excitement and fun of being a child and keeping things simple—a lesson I believe offers parents a reminder of precious understanding and caring. You’ve provided me with a treasure far exceeding any price tag in the gift of being a father. Each day your smiles, successes, and joyful and playful natures bring about keen memories in which I am able treasure even more my youth and the sensations of joy they brought to my heart.
I will treasure you every day as I continue to be amazed by your strength and understanding. It’s a gift I cannot describe—to watch you as you learn, change, and grow. Know always that you are my first thoughts when I awake and the ones who I say a special prayer for each night as I fall asleep. You are my life, and I couldn’t be more proud of you.
Next, I thank my four grandparents and cherish the memories they gave me—all of whom I got to spend more than twenty years of my life with learning valuable lessons. Ruth and Edward Boehm and Joseph and Ann Matovic, you always provided more than I needed and were solid and grounded in your wisdom that someday I would eventually conquer my condition.
You believed in me, guided me, and instilled within me a wisdom that now I understand. Know that you are loved and missed every day as I look toward heaven and breathe the fresh air all the while knowing I will one day see you again.
To Jim Fussell, my partner, my inspiration, and my friend: the day we met was the beginning of many wonderful experiences through which we have traveled. Without you, this book was simply impossible. You’ve given me so much in return as we’ve swapped stories, learned about our “one of a kind” likenesses, and shared smiles and tears together.
Through all the calls, research, interviews, studying, late nights, planning, and laughing, I look back and see how far we’ve come as men and now as authors of our story—a story that started as a meeting in a hotel room and has blossomed into a brotherhood for which I am eternally grateful.
I look forward to spending the rest of our lives continuing to learn, love, and laugh together, never forgetting what it took to get us this far. The journey is just beginning. And as it has become our hallmark: Keep the Faith. You’re simply amazing.
In a very special way, I thank and am forever indebted to Drs. Brian Maddux and Robert Maciunas, without whom there is no book nor my new lease of life. Your genuine care for the endurance of the human spirit lives within my heart daily. Your expertise in the field of neurology, neurosurgery, and deep brain stimulation is second to none. Thank you both for seeing the person, not the patient, as well as the courage instead of the frustration.
Next, I’d like thank University Hospitals of Cleveland (now University Hospitals Case Medical Center) for contributing its expertise to make my surgery and new life possible. In particular, I’m grateful to CEO Tom Zenty, the staff of the department of neurology, the department of neurosurgery, staff members of Tower 4 Neurological and Intensive Care Unit, and all of the nurses and staff who continue to work tirelessly to better the lives of others.
Thank you to Medtronic. Without your technology and innovative thought to care for the lives of individuals in need of electronic medical equipment, the surgery would never have taken place. Your hardware and other specific devices used in deep brain stimulation are a true measure of ingenuity and on a larger scale represent hope for people in need of these devices. Your company has provided and continues to provide hope for those in need around the globe.
Special thank-yous go to our extended families, whose insights proved most valuable to the completion of this book. Also to Dr. Ann Failinger, wife of Dr. Robert Maciunas, whose recollections and aid truly give this book meaning felt from the heart. To close friends of Jim Fussell at the Kansas City Star (even though we may have not have met), thank you for continuing to provide advice, counsel, and opinions to help bring this story to life.
Also thank you to Ellen Nesselrode-Jasa of Hallmark Hall of Fame for aiding us in our search for our tremendously talented agent, Sharlene Martin, who believed in our book and fought to make it the best it could possibly be.
Finally, a sincere thank-you to our editor, Jerry Pohlen, and all the dedicated people at Chicago Review Press whose belief in Jim and me and our story and passion, as well as their continued guidance made it all possible.
WHEN JEFF MATOVIC BURST INTO THE OFFICE OF DR. ROBERT MACIUNAS, HE HAD VERY FEW OPTIONS LEFT. Matovic had suffered for years from Tourette Syndrome, his tics and outbursts getting progressively worse, to the point where he saw suicide as a viable option. Drugs, physical therapy, prayer—nothing was working. But Dr. Maciunas was a pioneer in deep brain stimulation (DBS), a new therapy that had worked to correct other brain disorders. Could it fix Matovic’s Tourette’s? All Matovic had to do was convince Dr. Maciunas that he was a perfect candidate for the procedure, then get his insurance company to pay for it, even though DBS was not yet approved for the disorder. That, and have several electrical leads—a “brain pacemaker”—implanted into his skull.
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Author Jim Fussell is uniquely qualified to tell Matovic’s story—he suffers from Tourette Syndrome as well. Oprah Winfrey first told Fussell about Matovic—whom she dubbed the “Miracle Man”—in an interview, and as Fussell learned about Matovic’s remarkable journey, he vowed to seek him out. The two men became close friends, bound by their common experience with this bizarre brain disorder. This is their story.
JAMES A. FUSSELL (right) is a feature writer for the Kansas City Star who has struggled with Tourette’s from childhood.
JEFFREY P. MATOVIC (left) is the first person to have his Tourette Syndrome controlled through deep brain stimulation.
JEFF FOXWORTHY is a comedian, author, and television performer.
Jacket design: Natalya Balnova Author photo: Susan Fussell
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