Ticked A Medical Miracle, a Friendship, and the Weird World of Tourette Syndrome

An inspirational tale of personal struggle with and triumph over Tourette syndrome, this is the story of Jeff Matovic and the radical treatment he sought to cure himself. After suffering from Tourette's for yearswith his tics and outbursts getting progressively worse and with no results coming from drugs or physical or spiritual therapyJeff was able to convince his doctors and his insurance company to try a risky deep brain stimulation treatment, a surgery that involves the implantation of a pacemaker for the brain into his skull. Penned by a journalist who is also afflicted with Tourette's, this is the incredible story of a friendship that blossomed under their common experiences with this bizarre brain disorder. A complete discussion of the latest medical research of and treatments for Tourette's, written in accessible and easy-to-understand terminology, is also included.

James A. Fussell is a feature writer for the Kansas City Star who has struggled with Tourette’s from childhood. He lives in Kansas City, Missouri. Jeffrey P. Matovic is the first person to have his Tourette Syndrome controlled through deep brain stimulation. He lives in Cleveland, Ohio. Jeff Foxworthy is a comedian, author, and television performer.