In the United Kingdom, a woman with Parkinson’s disease performed a piece on the clarinet while surgeons were implanting electrodes into her brain for stimulation, Daily Mail reports.

69-year-old Denise Bacon had been living with Parkinson’s disease since 2014. Because of the illness, she found it increasingly difficult to walk, dance and play in the orchestra where she had performed for many years. To regain control of her movements, she agreed to undergo surgery at King’s College Hospital in London, where doctors implanted electrodes for deep brain stimulation.

According to neurosurgeon Keyoumars Ashkan, two holes the size of a five-pence coin were drilled into the patient’s skull. A special navigation frame helped precisely identify the location for electrode implantation. The procedure was carried out under local anesthesia, so the woman remained conscious — and agreed to play the clarinet during the operation.

“We observed an instant improvement in hand movement as soon as we started the stimulation,” Ashkan said. “When the electrodes were implanted on the left side of the brain, the movements of her right hand became more accurate, and she was able to play freely. The same thing happened after the electrodes were placed on the right side.”

Bacon herself said she felt noticeable relief almost immediately.

“After the stimulation, my right hand started moving more freely — I was able to play the clarinet again. I also feel that I’m walking better, and I dream of returning to dancing,” she said.

The patient received a rechargeable pulse generator implanted in her chest. It can function for up to 20 years and automatically adjusts the level of brain stimulation depending on neural activity.