Living with Tourette's - S2
Tourette Syndrome is an incurable disorder causing uncontrollable verbal outbursts and physical tics. These can make it impossible for sufferers to work, make friends, or even go to the shops. Spitting, swearing and motor tics make even the simplest tasks difficult, and draw unwanted attention and judgement from society. Yet most sufferers are determined to overcome their difficulties and take their rightful place in the community. Many are talented, intelligent Kiwis who just need support and a break.
The new season of Living With Tourette’s features our sufferers’ struggles to get work, make friends and bring up kids themselves in a society not structured to cope with Tourette’s. We follow some familiar faces as well as introducing a few new ones, as we follow their families through their physical and emotional journeys.
The “tickers” will learn about new cutting-edge therapies, experience inspiring meet-ups with other sufferers, and take on activities that will push them to their limits and beyond. While Tourette’s is incurable, viewers will learn that there are many things that those with Tourette’s can do to manage their tics; including singing, acting and roller derby. We will also reveal the struggle that many tickers face to gain access to one medication known to effectively relieve the symptoms – medicinal cannabis (Sativex).
6 x 45 min Episodes - made with the support of NZ On Air.
The new season of Living With Tourette’s features our sufferers’ struggles to get work, make friends and bring up kids themselves in a society not structured to cope with Tourette’s. We follow some familiar faces as well as introducing a few new ones, as we follow their families through their physical and emotional journeys.
The “tickers” will learn about new cutting-edge therapies, experience inspiring meet-ups with other sufferers, and take on activities that will push them to their limits and beyond. While Tourette’s is incurable, viewers will learn that there are many things that those with Tourette’s can do to manage their tics; including singing, acting and roller derby. We will also reveal the struggle that many tickers face to gain access to one medication known to effectively relieve the symptoms – medicinal cannabis (Sativex).
6 x 45 min Episodes - made with the support of NZ On Air.
S2 Episode Outlines
Meet the characters
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Sian Winmill, 16, Hamilton
Lashkar Singh, 38 Hamilton
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Adam Belcher, 32, Tauranga
Renee Harvey, 26, Nelson
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Renee's Brain
RENEE’S BRAIN is an inspiring documentary that follows New Zealand’s most severe sufferer of Tourette Syndrome, 25-year-old Renee Harvey, as she embarks on a surgical journey that could save her life, yet may also take her life.
Debilitated and isolated by increasingly extreme symptoms of Tourette’s, and desperate for a normal life, RENEE, the mother of a 7-year-old boy, has exhausted every medical avenue – from Ritalin and other prescribed medications to behavior therapy. Nothing has worked.
Renee swears constantly and uncontrollably. She lives with never-ending physical tics, including muscle spasms throughout her body; she often hits herself or those within reach. She spits constantly, her head and neck jerks frequently. She bites her cheek so hard that she has had to have three healthy molars removed to prevent massive mouth ulcers that won’t heal.
All these symptoms are involuntary. She has no control over what her body does, or what she says. Renee, like every sufferer of Tourette Syndrome, hates her tics.
This is why Renee has grasped the lifeline offered by the possibility of a revolutionary yet highly risky surgical operation called Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). This operation involves inserting threadlike electrodes into the brain through which small electrical impulses are sent via a pacemaker. DBS has been most commonly used to treat movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, but within the last few years it’s also been used in the USA, Italy and Australia to treat severe Tourette Syndrome. But never before in New Zealand.
RENEE’S BRAIN will follow Renee and her family on this incredible journey, through her highs and lows as she embarks on the biggest two months of her life.
45 min Episode - made with the support of NZ On Air.
Debilitated and isolated by increasingly extreme symptoms of Tourette’s, and desperate for a normal life, RENEE, the mother of a 7-year-old boy, has exhausted every medical avenue – from Ritalin and other prescribed medications to behavior therapy. Nothing has worked.
Renee swears constantly and uncontrollably. She lives with never-ending physical tics, including muscle spasms throughout her body; she often hits herself or those within reach. She spits constantly, her head and neck jerks frequently. She bites her cheek so hard that she has had to have three healthy molars removed to prevent massive mouth ulcers that won’t heal.
All these symptoms are involuntary. She has no control over what her body does, or what she says. Renee, like every sufferer of Tourette Syndrome, hates her tics.
This is why Renee has grasped the lifeline offered by the possibility of a revolutionary yet highly risky surgical operation called Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). This operation involves inserting threadlike electrodes into the brain through which small electrical impulses are sent via a pacemaker. DBS has been most commonly used to treat movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, but within the last few years it’s also been used in the USA, Italy and Australia to treat severe Tourette Syndrome. But never before in New Zealand.
RENEE’S BRAIN will follow Renee and her family on this incredible journey, through her highs and lows as she embarks on the biggest two months of her life.
45 min Episode - made with the support of NZ On Air.
Living with Tourettes - S1
Tourette’s Syndrome is an incurable disorder causing uncontrollable verbal outbursts and physical tics. These outbursts can make it impossible for sufferers to work, make friends, or even go to the shops. Spitting, swearing and motor tics make even the simplest tasks difficult, and draw unwanted attention and judgement from society.
This New Zealand based documentary series follows sufferers’ struggles to get work, find love and bring up kids in a society not designed to cope with Tourette’s. The six episodes will follow Tourette’s sufferers including William, whose uncontrollable motor tics and loud shrieking make it too hard to go to school; Renee, whose severe case of Tourette’s doesn’t stop her being the best Mum she can be; and Adam, whose motor tics are so severe that even putting on shoes is incredibly difficult.
While Tourette’s is incurable, there are many things that those with Tourette’s can do to manage their tics; including singing, driving and roller derby. We will also reveal the struggle that many tickers face to gain access to one medication known to effectively relieve the symptoms – medicinal cannabis (Sativex).
6 x 45 min Episodes - made with the support of NZ On Air.
This New Zealand based documentary series follows sufferers’ struggles to get work, find love and bring up kids in a society not designed to cope with Tourette’s. The six episodes will follow Tourette’s sufferers including William, whose uncontrollable motor tics and loud shrieking make it too hard to go to school; Renee, whose severe case of Tourette’s doesn’t stop her being the best Mum she can be; and Adam, whose motor tics are so severe that even putting on shoes is incredibly difficult.
While Tourette’s is incurable, there are many things that those with Tourette’s can do to manage their tics; including singing, driving and roller derby. We will also reveal the struggle that many tickers face to gain access to one medication known to effectively relieve the symptoms – medicinal cannabis (Sativex).
6 x 45 min Episodes - made with the support of NZ On Air.
