When Vicki McAlpin began showing signs of illness 10 years ago, her daughter suspected it was more than just age. 

As Divisional Vice President of Research and Development in neuromodulation at Abbott, McAlpin’s daughter, Rebecca Wilkins, has specialized knowledge about movement disorders. Wilkins has spent more than a decade leading various teams of Abbott scientists and engineers that develop breakthrough therapies for those living with movement disorders, including Parkinson’s disease.

And she knew that women often get diagnosed later than men.

So when her mom started experiencing hand tremors and began to have trouble walking in 2015, Wilkins encouraged her to see a movement disorder specialist.

“I noticed pretty quickly that some of the things she was experiencing were signs of something more serious,” Wilkins said. “I wanted to make sure she had access to the care she needed.”

A new lease on life with DBS

McAlpin quickly received a Parkinson’s diagnosis and began treatment with medication. But as medication became less effective at managing her tremors, her doctor recommended Abbott’s Infinity DBS system — the very same technology that Wilkins helped develop at Abbott.

This technology, called deep brain stimulation (DBS), is an implantable device that looks like a pacemaker. By sending mild pulses of energy to the brain, the device regulates neurons and calms tremors in people with diseases like Parkinson’s. Although the procedure was intimidating, she felt the chance of a life with fewer tremors was worth it.

“It was a leap of faith, and it’s improved my quality of life so much,” McAlpin said.

An up-close look at the patient experience

Since her mom’s diagnosis, Wilkins has had an even sharper sense of purpose that drives her work. 

“When you know the work you do every day has the potential to help somebody you know, you’re very motivated,” Wilkins said.

Being able to observe her mom’s experience as a DBS user has also helped inspire Wilkins to improve the product itself. In 2021, she and her team launched the virtual clinic feature of DBS, which enables doctors to discuss symptoms with patients and fine tune the stimulation settings remotely.

The virtual clinic has been a game changer for McAlpin. She lives in Cheyenne, Wyo., which makes it difficult to attend doctor’s appointments in-person.

“My doctor is in Denver, which is two hours away from Cheyenne,” she said. “If the weather’s bad, they close the roads, which means I can’t get there when I need to.”

Wilkins also uses her experience to inspire her team and frame just how impactful their work can be.

“I’ll often remind my team that, at the end of the day, we’re making this technology for someone’s family,” Wilkins said.

Living a full, active life with Parkinson’s Disease

Since receiving DBS, McAlpin has been able to live life as she normally would: A healthy, active grandmother of seven with no noticeable tremor. She travels frequently with her husband to places like Budapest and Amsterdam, quilts, and spends lots of time with her grandkids.

She continues to be a vocal advocate of DBS and frequently speaks with other people with Parkinson’s about her experience, and she encourages them to explore the option with their doctor.

“This implant has changed my life,” she said. “I am an Abbott success story.”

This testimonial relays an account of an individual’s response to the treatment. This patient’s account is genuine, typical, and documented.  However, it does not provide any indication, guide, warranty or guarantee as to the response other persons may have to the treatment. Responses to the treatment discussed can and do vary and are specific to the individual patient.