Last week, Joe Lankheit truly enjoyed a cup of coffee for the first time in a decade.

Lankheit, 52, has suffered tremors in both arms -- most severe on his right side -- since 1988.

In all that time he hadn't been able to eat or drink without assistance or write at all. He'd been right-handed all his life.

"The bank knew if they could read the signature, it wasn't mine," Lankheit said.

At work, Lankheit was so limited in movement, he was forced to use a voice-activated computer.

Then, while watching a television show, he learned about new developments in tremor therapy, which might return the use of his right arm.

Actor Michael J. Fox had recently disclosed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and experimental treatments were in the news.

After a some research, Lankheit contacted Cape Girardeau neurosurgeon Kee Park and they talked about the newly FDA-approved, tremor control therapy.

Park explained that he would make a hole in Lankheit's skull and insert a wire lead into his brain.

He would use computer-assisted locators to make the hole. "Our target is about the size of a small pea," Park said, "And that part of the brain is sort of a junction for a lot of things."

Once lead is in place, Park would connect it to an electrical stimulator and evaluate how Lankheit holds a cup, stretches his arms out, draws, writes and speaks, adjusting placement and electrical impulse.

Finally, the lead is connected to a pulse generator similar to a cardiac pacemaker which is implanted beneath the skin in the chest.

The stimulation is controlled by the patient with a hand-held magnet.

Park explained that the mild electrical impulses work as a sort of "jamming system" blocking messages from the brain to the arm causing the tremor.

Tremor therapy is for people who, for one reason or another, don't respond to traditional drug therapy.

"They're at their wit's end. It's a drastic procedure," Park said.

Park's first patient to have the procedure was James Davis, a retired minister who resides in Bloomfield. He also suffered from tremors.

He couldn't take communion anymore without spilling and hadn't been able to sign his name in years, Park said.

Park decided to do the surgery after looking at the effectiveness studies.

"It tickled me, because his wife was so thrilled to see her husband restored, she just cried," Park said.

A widower, Lankheit is the father of two sons, Justin, a senior at Southeast Missouri State University and Jacob, a freshman at Mizzou.

He said his boys were concerned about their father's decision until they met Dr. Park. "He's the most likable guy, he put them right at ease," he said.

Lankheit said the most unnerving part for him was knowing he's be awake for the procedure.

But he said he was treated so well by Dr. Park and the staff at St. Francis Medical Center that his fears were calmed.

To lighten the mood, Lankheit asked if he needed to bring his own drill.

He was awake for nearly the entire 7-hour procedure except the last 15 minutes when they put the pacemaker in his chest.

"It was the neatest all-around experience I've had related to the medical field."

Park said he found the procedure to be satisfying as well.

He said rarely does a surgery, particularly neurosurgery, provide such immediate gratification.

"The man was literally disabled one minute and well the next. It was like we were able to give him back his hand.

"The rewards are so fulfilling, I'm privileged to be a part of it," Park said.

The return of simple pleasures is the best thing for Lankheit.

He's able to join his family in restaurants without embarrassment. "Before, I couldn't eat without slinging food," he said.