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Mich. Woman Says She Was ‘Relaxed’ While Awake During Brain Surgery (See the Video)

Dec. 6, 2012 8:53pm Liz Klimas

Kim Bonnema of Michigan Describes Being Awake While Having Brain Surgery

Kim Bonnema several months after having brain surgery is back at work and doing normal activities. (Photo: Emily Zoladz/MLive.com)

Being awake for a surgery might sound like a nightmare for some. But for patients needing operations on their brain, it is often required to be kept alert at some points. Kim Bonnema from Michigan was one of these patients and instead of sounding frightened, she described herself as “relaxed” and “confident” during her awake craniotomy.

In a story by by MLive’s Sue Thoms, Bonnema said she not only had suffered with epilepsy, a condition that results in seizures, but also was found to have six tumors in her brain, four of which she had been living with since 1984 that considered inoperable at the time they were found. This past summer, Bonnema underwent surgery where she was awoken in the middle of the procedure to remove two tumors.

Dr. Kost Elisevich, the surgeon at the Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids who performed Bonnema’s operation, said the patient is often woken up during such surgeries to assess how their speech and motor skills are. One of 45-year-old woman’s tumors was in an area that could have affected both.

“For this, we needed to be able to interact with Kim during the surgery in order to assess her language and motor skills as the tumor itself was removed,” Elisevich said in a statement from the hospital. “An awake craniotomy involves arousing the patient from sedation during the surgery for this purpose.”

“We asked Kim to move her right hand and wrist, to show a smile and close her eyes,” Elisevich told Thoms.

Thoms also reported that Bonnema had blood vessel malformations, which were complications resulting from epilepsy, that were fixed in the surgery as well.

Watch the doctor’s interact with Bonnema during the operation:

Now the question we’re all wondering: can Bonnema remember the surgery and, if so, what was it like? Thoms reported Bonnema saying she does have memories of being awake but was unaware of what was going on with the surgery specifically.

“I was very relaxed,” she told MLive. “I was just so confident.”

After such a surgery, Bonnema spent four days in the hospital and had two weeks of rehabilitation before she returned home, according to a press release from the hospital.

At first after the surgery, Bonnema’s speech was impaired as well as her control over her right eyelid, but function of both have returned. Thoms also reported Elisevich saying that if Bonnema continues to remain seizure-free she could eventually reduce or stop taking medication, which Bonnema said would give her more energy.

“I have a renewed appreciation for life. For the most part, my speech is fine. I just have to make myself consciously slow down at times. And my hair is growing back,” Bonnema said, according to the hospital’s press release. “Life is good.”

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Comments (13)

Oneirishman
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 4:47pm
This is great! We won’t have to knock Biden out to find out the answer most people have ask about him.

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The_Cabrito_Goat
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 1:41pm
She must be really cheap if she didnt want to pay for anesthesia. That’s something you’re gonna want.

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sparkyrules
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 10:14am
I had major ankle surgery from the same Hospital.The anesthesiologists were perfecto.And so was the Doctor and everybody else.Quality.I love West Michigan.

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- Oneirishman
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 4:44pm
  Get back to us after Obama Care kicks in.
  
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bloomytoad
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 9:35am
Not a story. Used to work for a neurosurgeon and many, many brain surgeries must be done while the patient is conscious. This is like reporting on a plane landing safely.

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- caleejr
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 2:19pm
  Since I’m not in the medical field – I wasn’t aware of the commonality…It’s the First I’ve heard of something like that – which is pretty cool that things like that can be done.
  
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- Jake Dog2
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 4:04pm
  @ BOOMTOAD
  I have been a nurse for 35 years and you are right is comon for a lot of brain surgeries.
  
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liltexasgal
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 10:58pm
People love each other so much that they are willing to dedicate their lives to years and years of study in order to help another human being. The depth of feeling in the doctor’s voice for his patient is palpable. This story shows that no matter how much our politicians try to divide us by race, gender, or political party, when the chips are down we really love each other.

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- Oneirishman
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 4:52pm
  Not to be a buzz kill, but the doctors are not doing pro bono work here.
  
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ChangeAll
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 9:32pm
This is an interesting article…must mention, however, that there is no such phrase as “woken up”…properly spoken is “awakened” .. the misuse of our language is rampant and discouraging.

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Psychosis
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 9:27pm
smart to ge it done before obamacare kicks in

by the end of obama’s LAST term , she would probably NOT be able to get this operation

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normalmom
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 9:20pm
I had a brain surgery thankfully I didn’t have to be woke up, don’t know if I could handle that. I was mostly worried my **** would grow back the wrong color. On a surgery like this you may not be able to completely stop taking meds but taking less really helps. Good luck to her.

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- Oneirishman
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 4:59pm
  According to CHANGEALL you can only be awakened. But I’m going to insist CHANGEALL have brain surgery. So’s the rest of us can use improper grammar and not feel shame.
  
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