Earlier, I posted information regarding Dr. Zeitel and work he is doing at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary on paralyzed vocal cords. In a related but new article published in the Boston Globe on June 14th 2002, it is reported that a new group - The Voice Restoration Subsequent to Vocal Fold Scarring project has been established. The article relates,in part:
"Vocal cords are among the human body's most comlex organs, vibrating 100 to 200 times a second and powered by intricate wiring that can be bedeviling to repair. With a faulty snip of a surgical tool, a singer's career can be silenced, or a grandfather can lose his ability to coo at his grandchildren"I think that all of us on the bbs understand, better than most, the truth of this statement. The article also quotes from Julie Andrews who, as you may know, lost her singing voice after she suffered damage to her vocal cords, apparently during surgery.
The author of the article is Stephen Smith and his email address is stsmith@globe.com. Just another piece of information. John
p.s. You can find this article by searching "Zeitel" at www.bostonglobe.com
--modified by john s. beeman at Tue, Jun 18, 2002, 10:51:05
--modified by john s. beeman at Tue, Jun 18, 2002, 10:55:15
Re: Dr. Steven Zeitels - News Release
Thanks for sharing this, John. Valuable part of the "body-of-work" we are developing on this BB.Knowing so many people personally who have had compensatory implants and other things (following SD surgery) as well as others with severe vocal paralysis unrelated to SD or SD-surgery (I hope the person I'm thinking of will respond), I think your post is important. The most important thing is always...*HOPE*...that we can get our "best (most functional) voice" back, to be able to work again or, as this article mentions, be able to talk to our grandchildren. I have no grandchildren, even though my sons are older than I was when I had both of them, but this is an issue I've been thinking alot about these days. When grandchildren come, I'm hoping I'll be able to talk well enough to develop a robust relationship with them. Otherwise, I guess we'll just learn ASL together. Thanks John. --Lynne (AD/SD; Northern California)
Re: Dr. Steven Zeitels - News Release
Lynne,I knew going into surgery with Dr. Berke that I might not have a successful outcome. I, did, however, feel very confident that I had made the right choice for me at that time. The article John mentions is very important to those contemplating surgeries and treatments for their vocal chords. Working for a physician, I knew how even a simple surgery can go wrong for someone and work wonders for someone else. I, also, witnessed this with my husband when he had cataract surgery. After returning home, he started having terrible pain and on New Year's Eve about three years ago, we were at IU Hospital in Indianpolis with an emergency surgery to save his eye. Fortunately, thanks to a brilliant surgeon and wonderful caring doctor, his eye was saved and he has very good vison with his glasses. Had we not seen this doctor so quickly, he would be without sight in his right eye. My SD surgery was a success and I can read, sing, and talk for hours with my two little grandchildren now. I could not do this before so I am one of the lucky ones. It is so important to do lots of research before any kind of treatment or surgery and "DO" read the form well before you give your consent for the surgeon to go ahead and ask questions. We read the form before my husband's surgery and weren't really too concerned about something going wrong as he had had previous cataract surgery with no problems. There is no guarantee that the outcome will be a success, we can only hope and have faith. And by the way, I wish you grandchildren someday too. There's nothing like them!!
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