Thanks to Dr. Paul Goodnick (formerly with the University Of Miami School Of Medicine) for sending Joyce and me to Dr. Mark George at MUSC (Medical University of South Carolina) and for his allowing Joyce into the initial depression (D-01) study even though we were residents of Florida.
Thanks to the former CEO, Robert (Skip) Cummins for reaching out and training Joyce’s current attending psychiatrist Dr. Ely Pelta before the depression indication was approved by the FDA so a trained physician could attend to her needs. Thanks to Dr. Pelta for working with us and helping to maintain Joyce’s wellness. And thanks again to Skip for pushing for the FDA approval.
I extend a special thank you to Dr. Daniel Schultz for overriding his underlings at the FDA and for his practical hands-on patient care and medical knowledge and understanding of these patient’s desperate needs and for his approving the therapy for depression despite all the pressures against him.
I also extend a special thank you to Mr. Jonathan Blum, Deputy Administrator and Director for CMS and Ms. Amy Larrick, Senior Advisor to the Principal Deputy Administrator and their staff for also understanding the desperate needs of this small group of implanted patients and assisting these patients in obtaining medical coverage.
Lastly, I certainly am thankful for Cyberonics having developed this therapy as it has truly been remarkable in maintaining Joyce’s wellness. Other than developing the therapy and also significantly benefiting the epilepsy patient population I am extremely disappointed in Cyberonics current and total lack of acknowledgement of the existing depression patients by mere fact there is no significant mention of their existence either on their corporate website or this Facebook website and so I refer to these patients as the “Unwanted stepchildren of Cyberonics”.
Sad as it may be a number of these "Unwanted stepchildren of Cyberonics" also publicly represented Cyberonics at lectures and other events and when called upon for help Cyberonics turned their backs on these very same people with what I consider a very lame excuse. Tsk, tsk, tsk!
Sincerely,
Herb
Joyce and Herbert Stein
1008 Trailmore Lane
Weston, FL 33326-2816
(954) 349-8733
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