For more than three decades, Neville Waterstorm couldn’t do something most of us never think twice about, drinking from a glass without spilling. Living with essential tremors meant that even basic tasks were an everyday struggle. But a revolutionary new procedure performed at Gold Coast University Hospital in Australia has changed all that.
Neville's hands have steadied thanks to a surgery that doesn’t require incisions. The treatment targets the specific brain activity responsible for tremors, using MRI guidance to disrupt the problematic neural patterns non-invasively. And the results? Instant and incredible.
"Neville couldn't drink a glass of water for 35 years."
— @ShannonFentiman
Shannon Fentiman, a Labor MP, shared the heartwarming moment on X, formerly Twitter. Neville, visibly emotional, was seen lifting a glass without shaking for the first time in decades. “Neville couldn't drink a glass of water for 35 years. Watch that all change thanks to a groundbreaking incision-less surgery at Gold Coast University Hospital,” she posted.
An emotional moment and overwhelming gratitude
Neville couldn't drink a glass of water for 35 years.
Watch that all change thanks to a groundbreaking incisionless surgery at Gold Coast University Hospital. pic.twitter.com/ps3YUZb3XA
— Shannon Fentiman (@ShannonFentiman) July 8, 2024
The reaction was overwhelming, not just for Neville, but for everyone who witnessed it. He recalled the moment post-surgery when he was handed a glass of water. Through tears, he said, “That very first moment I came out of the MRI and they put a glass of water in front of me… For 35 years I've never ever been able to drink that glass of water.”
"The thanks that I feel... for something that's changed my life is endless."
— Neville Waterstorm
He went on to express profound appreciation for the doctors, hospital staff, and government support that made the procedure possible. It wasn’t just about drinking, it was about reclaiming a life he had long lost. “It’s been incredibly difficult to do even simple tasks like feeding myself, and drinking out of a glass was just not a possibility,” he shared. “Now – it’s just amazing.”
More than just water, Neville regains his life
Just an hour after the procedure, Neville was already experiencing dramatic results. He could hold a pen, draw a spiral, and control his movements in a way that hadn’t been possible in decades. The hospital posted a proud update on Instagram showing his progress, calling it a “life-changing transformation.”
"One hour after the procedure... I can drink a glass of water again."
— Neville Waterstorm
Gold Coast University Hospital is the first public hospital in Australia to offer this type of treatment. Using advanced MRI-focused ultrasound, the technique provides a non-invasive alternative for patients suffering from essential tremors, a condition that can dramatically diminish quality of life.
A community moved
The internet had one collective response to Neville’s story: tears. User @miss_nou82 wrote, “Yes, but can he please wipe my tears away too because now I’m crying, damnit Neville.” Another, @mobiddiction, added, “Truly a miracle!!! God bless all the doctors, nursing, and admin staff who make such miracles come true.”
"Now I’m crying, damnit Neville."
— @miss_nou82
Gold Coast Health shared the joy too, posting, “We are so proud to be supporting treatments and outcomes like this. Helping to change lives and help deliver the best possible patient experiences is what drives us every day.”
@couriermail A Queensland man who has been suffering from severe uncontrollable tremors for the past 30 years can now live a normal life after an innovative brain procedure. The procedure uses ultrasound energy to target and ablate areas of the brain that trigger symptoms of movement disorders such as uncontrollable tremors. Read the full incredible story at The Courier Mail.
♬ original sound - couriermail
What’s routine for many, lifting a mug, writing a note, was a dream come true for Neville. And now, thanks to science, compassion, and public healthcare, that dream is being realized for more people than ever.
The ripple effect of one glass of water
Neville’s story helped ignite a wave of change. Within a month of his July 2024 surgery, Queensland’s government backed the procedure with A$3.5 million in funding. By March 2025, it was added to Australia’s national Medicare Benefits Schedule, making it free to eligible patients instead of costing A$30,000 out of pocket.
"I can drink a glass of water again… just one hour after the procedure."
— Neville Waterstorm
The impact is global. A JAMA Neurology study showed that treating both sides of the brain nearly doubles the total reduction in tremor severity. Clinics from New York to Scotland have adopted the technique, even treating patients in their 90s. The Focused Ultrasound Foundation now supports expansion into Parkinson’s care and beyond.
From impossible to everyday, lives are changing. Neville’s moment wasn’t just personal, it was a turning point for medicine worldwide.
This article originally appeared last year.
Ultrasound of human baby.Image via 
IVF animated process.Image via 
A couple speaks with a fertility professional.Image via 
Love, Mom.Photo from Heidi Johnson 
A teen boy having a hard time. 
Hands hold a digital representation of the brain.Image via 
Mother and daughter work a puzzle.Image via 
Man and woman connect under the sunshine.Image via 
The obituary paints a comic, if bleak, picture. 
A Facebook post about the obituary.
Why do some folks use social media but don't engage?
Psychologist says people who never comment on social media share these 5 positive traits
For over 20 years, social media has developed into a staple in many people’s day-to-day lives. Whether it’s to keep in communication with friends and family, following the thoughts of celebrities, or watching cat videos while sipping your morning coffee, there seem to be two types of social media users: commenters and lurkers.
The term “lurker” sounds equally mysterious and insidious, with some social media users writing them off as non-participants at best or voyeurs at worst. However, mindfulness expert Lachlan Brown believes these non-commenters have some very psychologically positive and healthy traits. Let’s take a look at how each one of these traits could be beneficial and see how fruitful lurking might be even though it can drive content creators crazy.
1. Cautious about vulnerability
Consciously or not, making a post online or commenting on one puts you and your words out there. It’s a statement that everyone can see, even if it’s as simple as clicking “like.” Doing so opens yourself up to judgment, with all the good, bad, and potential misinterpretation that comes with it. Non-commenters would rather not open themselves up to that.
These silent users are connected to a concept of self-protection by simply not engaging. By just scrolling past posts or just reading/watching them without commentary, they’re preventing themselves from any downsides of sharing an opinion such as rejection, misunderstanding, or embarrassment. They also have more control on how much of themselves they’re willing to reveal to the general public, and tend to be more open face-to-face or during one-on-one/one-on-few private chats or DMs. This can be seen as a healthy boundary and prevents unnecessary exposure.
Considering many comment sections, especially involving political topics, are meant to stir negative emotional responses to increase engagement, being extra mindful about where, when, and what you comment might not be a bad idea. They might not even take the engagement bait at all. Or if they see a friend of theirs post something vulnerable, they feel more motivated to engage with them personally one-on-one rather than use social media to publicly check in on them.
2. Analytical and reflective mindset
How many times have you gone onto Reddit, YouTube, or any other site and just skimmed past comments that are just different versions of “yes, and,” “no, but,” or “yes, but”? Or the ever insightful, formerly popular comment “First!” in a thread? These silent browsers lean against adding to such noise unless they have some valid and thoughtful contribution (if they bother to comment period).
These non-posters are likely wired on reflective thinking rather than their initial intuition. Not to say that all those who comment aren’t thoughtful, but many tend to react quickly and comment based on their initial feelings rather than absorbing the information, thinking it over, researching or testing their belief, and then posting it. For "lurkers," it could by their very nature to just do all of that and not post it at all, or share their thoughts and findings privately with a friend. All in all, it’s a preference of substance over speed.
3. High sense of self-awareness
Carried over from the first two listed traits, these silent social media users incorporate their concern over their vulnerability and their reflective mindset into digital self-awareness. They know what triggers responses out of them and what causes them to engage in impulsive behavior. It could be that they have engaged with a troll in the past and felt foolish. Or that they just felt sad after a post or got into an unnecessary argument that impacted them offline. By knowing themselves and seeing what’s being discussed, they choose to weigh their words carefully or just not participate at all. It’s a form of self-preservation through restraint.
4. Prefer to observe rather than perform
Some folks treat social media as information, entertainment, or a mix of both, and commenting can feel like they’re yelling at the TV, clapping alone in a movie theater when the credits roll, or yelling “That’s not true!” to a news anchor that will never hear them. But contrary to that, social media is a place where those yells, claps, and accusations can be seen and get a response. By its design, social media is considered by experts and the media as performative, regardless of whether it is positive or negative. Taking all of the previously mentioned traits into account, one can see why they would prefer to “observe the play” rather than get up on the stage of Facebook or X.
On top of that, these non-commenters could be using social media differently than those who choose to fully engage with it. Using this type of navigation, there may be nothing for them to comment about. Some commenters are even vying for this for their mental health. There are articles about how to better curate your social media feeds and manipulate algorithms to create a better social media experience to avoid unnecessary conflict or mentally tiring debate.
If you go on a blocking spree on all of your accounts and just follow the posters that boost you, it could turn your social media into a nice part of your routine as you mainly engage with others face-to-face or privately. In terms of commenting, if your curated Instagram is just following cute dogs and all you have to offer for a comment is “cute dog,” you might just enjoy the picture and then move on with your day rather than join in the noise. These non-commenters aren’t in the show and they’re fine with it.
5. Less motivated by social validation
The last trait that Brown showcases is that social media users who browse without posting tend to be independent from external validation, at least online. Social media is built to grow through feedback loops such as awarding likes, shares, and reposts of your content along with notifications letting you know that a new person follows you or wants to connect. This can lead many people to connect their activity on social media with their sense of self worth, especially with adolescents who are still figuring out their place in the world and have still-developing brains.
Engaging in social media via likes, shares, comments, and posts rewards our brains by having them release dopamine, which makes us feel good and can easily become addictive. For whatever reason, non-commenters don’t rely on social media as a means to gauge their social capital or self worth. This doesn’t make them better than those who do. While some non-commenters could have healthier ways to boost their self worth or release dopamine into their systems, many get that validation from equally unhealthy sources offline. That said, many non-commenters’ silence could be a display of independence and self confidence.
Whether you frequently comment online or don’t, it’s good to understand why you do or don’t. Analyzing your habits can help you determine whether your online engagement is healthy, or needs to be tweaked. With that information, you can then create a healthy social media experience that works for you.