For Kirk Neff, whose camera lens has captured prime ministers and princes, the simple act of holding a coffee cup became an exhausting struggle, until a chance encounter with a neurosurgeon who declared: ‘I can fix that.’

Diagnosed at age 16, the Canadian cameraman has contended with a debilitating neurological condition that causes uncontrollable shaking. Now, in a high-stakes surgery, he is fighting to save his career, which has defined his life.

His condition, known as essential tremor, made every task, from holding a coffee cup to steadying his camera, a major effort. Each small movement required intense focus to control the overwhelming shaking.

His life-changing moment came during a routine assignment when Dr Mojgan Hodaie, a neurosurgeon at Toronto Western Hospital, noticed his tremors while Neff was attaching a microphone to her shirt for recording. 

Her immediate diagnosis and promise of treatment opened a door that Neff thought had long closed. He underwent the first of two awake brain surgeries this year in a final attempt to stabilize the shaking, starting with targeting his left hand, which is now perfectly still. 

Approximately 1 million Canadians and 10 million Americans have essential tremor, the exact cause of which is unknown.

One leading theory suggests essential tremor arises from faulty communication between the cerebellum, the part of the brain responsible for muscle coordination, and other brain regions.

In many cases, the condition is inherited. A child of a parent with essential tremor has a 50 percent chance of inheriting the gene responsible for it.

Neff has experienced tremors since he was 16. He told CTV news that he was prescribed medication to alleviate the shaking, ‘and it never really worked.’

He said: ‘It takes a lot out of you. So not only are you shaking, but your mind’s working 24/7 … not only on what you’re doing, but working on trying to keep your hands straight.’

Neff’s colleague Omar Sachedina, chief news anchor and senior editor of CTV National News, first wrote about his colleague's tremors this week. 

Years ago, Sachedina attributed Neff's shaking to overcaffeination. 

But they only worsened as he got older, which is typical in cases of essential tremor.

Sachedina said: ‘I always noticed when Kirk had to put a microphone on a guest, he was always prepared with a few jokes to distract them from what was happening with his hands.

‘On our car rides back to the newsroom, Kirk acknowledged [his condition], but he never understood why they were happening.’ 

Two weeks after meeting Dr Hodaie for the first time, Neff was in her office discussing his upcoming surgery. 

The plan was to implant a small, pin-like electrode in a specific part of the brain to target the nerves causing his tremors, and then connect it to a pacemaker-like device in his chest. 

This treatment, known as deep brain stimulation, delivers electrical impulses that patients can adjust via a phone app to control the shaking.

When the day arrived, Neff described doctors placing a stabilizing brace around his skull before laying him down. They worked behind his head, the top of which was cordoned off with a blue sheet, while he and the staff faced an array of monitors displaying real-time data. 

As the tip of the electrode got closer to its target, the Ventral Intermediate Nucleus (VIM) of the thalamus, Neff said: 'I just remember hearing this sound... it's almost like a static sound.'

As the electrode hit its target, it stimulated the adjacent brain area, the medial geniculate body (MGB), which is the brain's primary auditory relay station, creating the static sound that came through the monitors. 

'And as they got closer and closer to the tremors [with the electrode], it got quieter and quieter, the sound,' he said. 

The lack of sound indicated that the electrode tip was now perfectly positioned within the exact tiny cluster of neurons within the VIM, having moved from the nearby auditory area. 

The test stimulation delivered from this spot was the signal that steadied the overactive nerves, silencing the tremor. 

He added: 'So at one point, I just remember it was so quiet in that surgery room that all I heard was, "ok, we got it."' 

In an interview after the procedure, Neff demonstrated the life-changing results. Lifting his left hand in the air, he kept it perfectly steady. His right hand, which used to be his 'good hand,' shook vigorously. His next surgery will stop the tremors there, too. 

He said: 'As soon as they turned on the pacemaker [the electrical stimulations through the electrode], my body just went "whoo," just relief, a sense of relief after 30-some odd years.'   

The procedure took approximately five hours in total. 

Essential tremor typically presents with several key signs, most noticeably involuntary shaking in the hands, which can make simple tasks, such as writing or using tools, challenging.

The condition may also cause shakiness or a quiver in the person’s voice, uncontrollable head nodding, and, in rare cases, tremors in the legs or feet.

Deep-brain stimulation is highly effective in treating essential tremor, with total tremor scores showing a 65 percent improvement at six months.

Neff will soon undergo a second surgery to target the nerves causing tremors in his right hand. 

He said: 'It's a new beginning. I remember crying and I told the doctor, "You saved my life. You saved my career."'