We recently spoke to Alexandra Boogers, a Belgian who graduated as a neurologist from the University of Antwerp and received her PhD on the subject of deep brain stimulation from the Catholic University of Leuven. Alexandra is currently a clinical and postdoctoral fellow at Toronto Western Hospital in Canada but she still found the time to write an English-language children’s book on deep brain stimulation with Belgian neuroscientist, Tine Van Bogaert: ‘Starry Skies, Cosmic Shakes’.
——–
We first asked Alexandra how she became a neurologist and how her interest in Parkinson’s came about. “Although I did not initially plan to become a neurologist because my father is a neuropsychiatrist and his stories about the work sounded rather absurd, I discovered my passion for neurology during my master’s studies. I actually wanted to become an emergency doctor or a tropical doctor, but during the neurology course, I was completely enchanted by how beautifully structured and organised the brain is. During my internship year, I found neurology fascinating because it requires a lot of thought to arrive at a diagnosis despite tests like MRIs.”
“My interest in Parkinson’s disease came about by chance during my first internship year. My supervisor, Philippe Maere, was particularly interested in movement disorders and really conveyed his passion. Later, I worked with David Crosiers at the University Hospital of Antwerp and he took me to a deep brain stimulation surgery for the first time. I have always been interested in exact science and deep brain stimulation offers the perfect combination of numbers, mathematics and helping patients. This made it a fascinating field for me.”
Alexandra has a clear opinion on what people should understand about deep brain stimulation: “The extreme opinions you often hear in the media are not representative. Deep brain stimulation works well, but it is not perfect and sometimes there are side effects. It is important to give nuanced information about both the outcomes and risks of the surgery. Fear of surgery is understandable and normal, but it is essential to have a realistic picture and expectation. I conduct webinars and tours to provide more nuanced explanations and emphasise that not everyone reacts the same way.”
A recent and very notable initiative by Alexandra is writing a children’s book about deep brain stimulation. “This idea came about after the partner of a deceased patient thanked our team and mentioned that she and her sons would love to do something to help us. This touched me because I realised that children are often not taken to consultations and are still affected by their parent’s or grandparent’s illness. The aim of the book is to encourage conversations between children and their families. The illustrations were created with AI, but we worked hard to keep the storyline simple and human.”
Alexandra and her co-author Tine also want to ensure the book is as accessible as possible. “We want everyone to be able to read the book, no matter where they are or their financial means. That is why we offer it on our website as a free PDF with a button that allows people to make a donation to help cover the cost of the paper version. My dream is that any parent or grandparent affected by Parkinson’s disease can read the book with their children or grandchildren.”
—————
The book ‘Starry Skies, Cosmic Shakes’ is available for free as a .pdf at www.cosmicshakes.com. It is available only in English. A printed version can also be ordered from the website, and there is an option to make a donation to support projects that improve the well-being of patients.