For essential tremor patients, focused ultrasound can feel like nothing short of a miracle

5 min read

In this article: 

• Essential tremor is a neurologial condition characterized by severe shaking in one or both hands that can heve severe effects on a patient's quality of life. 
• Focused ultrasound treatment offers most patients significant relief. Clinial trials at Providence Swedish proved the technology's safety and efficacy. 
• Today, genrous Swedish Foundation donors helps ensure that the treatment is available to almost every patient who seeks care at Providence Swedish.  

Eventually, he lost the ability to write and use a computer mouse. Typing was hard. Eating  with utensils became impossible. Even holding a pair of binoculars to birdwatch, one of his favorite hobbies, was too difficult with his tremors. 

“It was just getting so frustrating,” says Colwell, who is shown in two photos above. “I was getting uncomfortable eating out in public, so I decided to go ahead with the focused ultrasound procedure.” 

Cherie Holman (shown in photo below) recalls having tremors as far back as seventh grade, but it was when her medication began to affect her well-being that she decided on focused ultrasound treatment. Her tremors were more pronounced when she was nervous — during a violin performance or before giving a speech — so she was told to take beta blockers as needed.

Over time, as her tremors worsened, Holman's doctors prescribed higher doses and more frequent use until she was taking the medication daily. Still, her quality of life was affected. She couldn’t do watercolors or stained glass like she wanted to, and sewing and cooking were out of the question.  

Eventually, the side effects of the medication — feeling lightheaded, dizzy, and out of balance — became too much, and she decided to seek other options. 

Finding relief at Providence Swedish

Comwell and and Holman were two of the first patients to benefit from Providence Swedish’s new focused ultrasound system. Whereas the original equipment allowed Dr. Wang and his team to treat two patients in one day, the new system allows them to easily treat three patients and to reduce the treatment time itself by around half.  

“The term nowadays is ‘patient-centered care’ and I certainly received that,” Wayne says. “It made me rethink the experience from being nervous and, ‘Oh, they’re going to do something on my brain’ to something I was looking forward to.” 

Whatever the why, nearly every patient with essential tremor who seeks care at Providence Swedish Neuroscience Institute can receive help thanks to focused ultrasound and generous philanthropic support from the community.  

Dr. Wang and the entire team, Holman adds, were fantastic, informative, and kind. No question felt too small or insignificant. As for the procedure itself and the results, she simply calls it “a miracle.”  

Both patients can write legibly again. Colwell can drink from a cup without spilling or having to use a straw, and he’s back to eating chili, cereals, and soups with a spoon. He can even hold his binoculars steady again and now enjoys daily walks to look for birds. 

“It’s changed both my everyday abilities and my ability to pursue something that brings me joy,” he says. “I feel blessed that there are people out there willing to come together and donate funds to help an absolute stranger.” 

Holman was so grateful for her care and the positive outcome, she chose to donate to Providence Swedish to help future patients just like her. 

“I wanted to make focused ultrasound more available and to support Dr. Wang and the team, for whom we’re so grateful,” Holman affirms. “Whatever they need to move forward, I’m behind.”