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Outlook: I played violin during my brain surgery

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Dagmar Turner plays violin during brain surgery Credit Kings College London

29/06/2020 GMT

I played violin during my brain surgery

BBC World Service - Outlook, I played violin during my brain surgery

Dagmar Turner played to prevent any damage to her violin skills

Violinist Dagmar Turner performed scales and improvised tunes while a tumour was removed from her brain so that surgeons could preserve her ability to play music.

In January 2020, Dagmar Turner was woken up in the middle of her brain surgery and handed a violin. It was her idea. She was an amateur but committed violinist and was willing to go to drastic lengths to keep playing the instrument. Dagmar had been diagnosed with a brain tumour in her right frontal lobe. It was dangerously close to areas of her brain that were responsible for coordinating delicate movements in her left hand - essential for her musical talent. So she sought the help of Dr Keyoumars Ashkan – he was a respected neurosurgeon but also an accomplished musician, so he understood her love of music. Dr Ashkan agreed to perform an incredibly rare procedure where Dagmar would play the violin during surgery so that he and his team could remove only brain tissue that would not damage her music skills.

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Picture: Dagmar Turner with her violin during her brain surgery
Credit: King’s College Hospital

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