BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 09:26 PM

LOVE the Gor-Tex Carol!!!

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 06:04 PM

That is Fantastic!!! YEAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!! Sing on!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 06:00 PM

Here, here!!

'S wonderful news!!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: KathWestra
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 02:58 PM

Three cheers to Tom for the singing (and for the perseverance to get to that point).
Three cheers to Linn for all the long months of waiting and hand-holding with Tom while also holding down her job and dealing with her own health issues.
Three cheers to Dr. Z for having the right stuff and working surgical miracles.
And a final round of cheers to John McKenzie for the wonderful GoreTex Carol. What fun!
And a Merry Solstice to All, with wishes for a CALM and peaceful and HEALTHY 2011. xoxoxoxo

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: gnu
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 02:35 PM

Oh my! >:-)))))))))))

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: ClaireBear
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 11:51 AM

For the first time, I find myself wishing there was a "like" button I could press (twice: once for the singing and once for the Gore-tex Carol). Congratulations!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 11:11 AM

The Goretex Carol

The Goretex as I understand
Is the finest gift to Tom and Linn
I pray you all to make merry
Give thanks to science, and Doctor Z

In caelum cerevisiae est nullum,
Itaque hic bibemus illum


{Vir sapit qui pauca loquitur}

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: jacqui.c
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 11:04 AM

Wonderful!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: Nancy King
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 10:49 AM

Excellent! What a great Christmas present!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 10:33 AM

Tom sang!

He came upstairs about 45 minutes ago and waited patiently outside the bedroom door while I finished my free weight exercises, then came in with a quiet smile on his face but a gleam in his eye and announced that he had sung the first verse and chorus of "The Internationale" (except for the high note). No volume, of course, but he SANG!

He's been doing his exercises -- vocalizing through a straw and roller coaster tones and humming. His voice therapist had him trying to sing last week during his first therapy session and he was moderately successful (even though the stitches and drain were still in his neck and his throat was still somewhat swollen). We could see that the potential was definitely there.

It's early days yet and is going to take more work (and possibly some more procedures), but I can say in full confidence that Tom Hall will, indeed, sing again.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: jacqui.c
Date: 11 Dec 10 - 12:46 PM

Really good news! Can't wait to hear him.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: gnu
Date: 11 Dec 10 - 12:42 PM

What a wonderful gift. Brings a tear...

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 11 Dec 10 - 12:33 PM

Tom's car's battery died yesterday, so I had to leave work a bit early to fetch him to The Press Room. (We'll get that sorted out tomorrow or Monday.)

Steve Smith said he'd wanted to video friends' reactions to Tom's voice, but he didn't get it set up quickly enough.

Despite the sound sucking ability of The Press Room (which is, of course, exaggerated during the session), Tom was finally able to actually talk to people last night and friends could hear and understand him.

He's been doing his straw-vocalization exercises and talking to a lot of people on the phone. There's still work to do, but this has been a MAJOR advance. We see Dr. Zeitels and Carol, Tom's voice therapist, in about six weeks.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: Charley Noble
Date: 11 Dec 10 - 12:30 PM

I had a nice talk with Tom over the phone about noon yesterday. There is definitely greater volume and there is no doubt that it's Tom speaking. And he sounded very pleased!

Dr. Z's work is certainly impressive and one can only hope that more people will soon benefit from his results.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 10 Dec 10 - 08:34 AM

Thanks to Marty Stock who found this and posted it at Facebook -- it gives a lot of information about the procedure that Tom just went through and Dr. Z's philosophy, and the workings of the Voice Center. Tom has also gone through the voice evaluation as shown several times.

laryngoplasty

The young man in the video has both vocal cords but had a dysfunction. Tom had no right vocal cord left after the cancer was removed. But they both had a Gore-Tex medialization laryngoplasty.

Dr. Z has considerably less facial foliage now -- and it's a bit grayer, too.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: My guru always said
Date: 10 Dec 10 - 03:38 AM

So very pleased to keep seeing the good news, keep it up!!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: Jeri
Date: 09 Dec 10 - 10:46 PM

Tomorrow night is Friday night is session night.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: SINSULL
Date: 09 Dec 10 - 09:58 PM

I misssed Tom's call tonight. I will call back tomorrow night, Tom. All good news. A lot to celebrate for the New Year.
SINS

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 09 Dec 10 - 09:38 PM

There's a lot to be said for sleeping in one's own bed.

I didn't have time to post this morning, but I actually got a decent night's sleep last night. No waking up at 3 a.m. with sciatic nerve pain, etcet etcet. Still can only sleep on my back which irritates the sciatic nerve, but I slept well anyway. Did manage a few minutes on my left side -- right side is still out of the question.

First day back at work in, for all practical purposes, two and a half weeks. Not bad -- I'm slow and deliberate. The cane gets in the way around the optical shop, but I need it to get between the store and the parking lot.

My boss is wonderful -- he put in a lot of not only extra days, but extra hours on the days we close at 8 p.m. He left me some glasses to check in, people to call to let them know their glasses were in, and some paperwork that he didn't have time to get done, but I certainly don't mind doing that. Especially since a lot of it could be done seated. Thanks, Jeff! (Even though he probably won't read this.)

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 10:37 PM

There was also this interesting message from Tom on my machine when I got home this evening from Roll & Go rehearsal. There was no doubt at all that it was Tom. I think this is probably the best machine message that Judy and I have listened to in years.

Dr. Z is certainly breaking new ground in voice restoration. We should invite him (and his crew) up to a Press Room session so he could more keenly appreciate how we use (and mis-use) our voices.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: gnu
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 08:39 PM

Jeri... music to my ears.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: Jeri
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 08:21 PM

Good article. I think it's cute when they spell it "vocal chords".

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: Bill D
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 07:41 PM

Well! It sounds like Kendall & Tom are part of the cutting edge of a pretty new medical technology. It is good to know such advances are happening..... and Sea Chanties NEED to be heard more than rock & roll...in MY prejudiced opinion....

I am glad that you are so close to Boston.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 07:13 PM

Dr. Zeitels has some pretty high profile patients...but he also has some pretty high profile MUDCAT patients -- Kendall Morse and Tom Hall.

This is the interview from last Friday night. Only California got to see it all. Dr. Z needs another $3 million to get the biogel that can almost totally restore both Tom's and Kendall's (especially Kendall's, because his voice was destroyed by the radiation that was part of his cancer treatment) through the FDA testing so Dr. Z can use it to bring voices back from what could have been the grave.

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2010/12/02/the-who-frontman-opens-up-about-almost-losing-his-voice/

I truly thank God for Dr. Zeitels...and for the fact that he's so close in Boston...and that his goal is to preserve and restore the voice. Most other doctors just don't get it -- they just don't get how important the voice is to LIVING.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 06:58 PM

We got to Dr. Z's about 8 a.m. -- what time do these people START in the morning?!? Anywho, an associate came in and got the white goiter of gauze off Tom's neck, snipped the stitches and pulled out the drain. Then took pictures through his throat rather than snaking the camera down his nose. Even that's changed since Friday -- things are working together better and the gap is eliminated.

Then Dr. Zeitels came in and Tom greeted him. Dr. Z's smile was incredible! He asked Tom to count, etc. I made some comment about him looking pleased. He said, "Pleased? I'm over the moon!"

Before we could get out of there, though, Tom had to have another voice evaluation -- he'd had the first one back in September of 2009 and another this past Wednesday before the surgery.

Alas, they were fairly tightly scheduled this morning and we HAD to be out of there by not long after 10 so we could make the 11:05 Downeaster home. Everybody was hopping -- Carol, Tom's therapist, Kim, Sonny -- and Tara finally got to us. Ran through the same procedures as last Wednesday -- but the fastest she'd ever done an eval. Then they called a cab for us to save more time.

Carol came by to say she had overheard Dr. Z and Dr. Hillman -- they both think not only has this been a very very successful laryngoplasty, but that Tom recovers very well and very fast.

We go back in six weeks -- to be seen by Dr. Zeitels and to have another therapy session with Carol.

Meanwhile, Tom is under orders from Dr. Zeitels -- to talk as much and as often as possible. It's just going to get better as Tom learns to use his new voice.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: kendall
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 04:14 PM

I just talked to him on the phone and if I wasn't expecting a call I still would have known in an instant who it was. The voice is weaker than normal but the Timbre' is still there!
Wonderful!!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: gnu
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 03:10 PM

If you could take all the warmth of the hearts that have glowed from hearing this great news day after day youse would have to open the windows.

And, Jeri, I submit that you were/are a great comfort/help to Linn and Tom with your efforts.

Good on yas all!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: Jeri
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 02:46 PM

Tom seemed pretty happy, too! He sounded more like "Tom" today, and will just keep getting better, I think.

Tom, you should have maybe asked your voice therapist if kazoo playing would be a good thing.

The cold built up after a week of not having a fire going all the time. I started it around 11, and thought it might warm up a bit more than it did by the time you got home, but it's effin COLD outside!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 01:42 PM

We're home -- Jeri got a fire started in the woodstove so we didn't come home to a totally cold house. (And brought in some firewood, too.)

But it's finger-numbing cold here at the computer, so that's all I'm telling ya right now.

BTW, Dr. Z said he was "over the moon" pleased with the results of Tom's surgery.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 08:16 AM

Give the fuzzies an extra hug for us as well!

Cheerily,
Charley and Judy

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: GUEST,Bat Goddess in Boston
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 06:34 AM

Tom's in better humor, too, than I've seen him in in a looong time.

Now, if I could just get a full night's sleep. It's not the knee pain that wakes me up and keeps me awake, but sciatic pain. Because of the knee, I can only sleep on my back, and that puts pressure on the base of my spine which triggers the sciatic pain. At least it's only comparatively minor pain at base of spine and outside of my right calf, but enough to keep me from falling back to sleep.

Argh!

Early appointment with Dr. Z, then home. Really looking forward to going home. And the velcro cats. (Thanks, Jeri, for keeping their purrs warmed up -- if they'd not had any petting for a week, they'd be impossible.)

And I'm back to work tomorrow -- still maneuvering slowly and with a cane, but will be careful not to re-injure the knee.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: Nancy King
Date: 07 Dec 10 - 05:44 PM

Great news! So glad things seem to be going well -- at last!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 07 Dec 10 - 05:39 PM

yes!

another (everyday) miracle - you are very fortunate to have the best access to the best treatment by the leading doctor in the field.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: gnu
Date: 07 Dec 10 - 04:37 PM

Good new continues.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: SINSULL
Date: 07 Dec 10 - 03:34 PM

All good, Linn. Thanks.
Mary

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: maeve
Date: 07 Dec 10 - 01:41 PM

What encouraging news, Linn! Thank you.

Tom, I will look forward to hearing you for myself.

Maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: GUEST,Bat Goddess in Boston
Date: 07 Dec 10 - 01:39 PM

Sigh. Again, that last post was from me -- I was so excited about telling you all about Tom's therapy session that I forgot to identify myself.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Dec 10 - 01:38 PM

I think Tom and I have received our major Christmas gift this year -- his voice.

As the swelling goes down and things heal, his voice has gotten a little stronger every day since last Thursday's surgery. Not by far back to pre-cancer strength, but definitely encouraging and distinctly louder than the past 14 months.

Tom had a short introductory therapy session with Carol Krusemark, voice pathologist/singing voice specialist at the Voice Center this morning. (The other end of the hall from Dr. Z's.) She guided him in a few directions and had him vocalizing through a straw, basically showing him the exercises he'll need to practice to get the medial cord to work with the intact vocal cord. (Or maybe it's vice versa -- anyway, getting them to work optimally together).

He even sang, sort of. He's got some work to do -- 10 or 15 minutes twice a day -- and he'll be seeing her again when he comes down for followups with Dr. Z. But, wow. He's sounding even better than he did earlier this morning.

Sonny changed the dressing, says everything is looking good. Tom's beard is starting to grow out on his neck again, and wasbeing irritated by the blood on the old dressing.

Tomorrow the stitches and drain come out and we can come home.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: SINSULL
Date: 07 Dec 10 - 10:45 AM

Just the idea that Tom is posting again says a lot. Glad to have you back, old man. Take care of yourself, less old woman. It's icy out there.
Jeri, you're a treasure. But you knew that.
SINS

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: GUEST,Bat Goddess in Boston
Date: 07 Dec 10 - 09:40 AM

Tom is hoping to get a start on voice therapy today -- he needs to relearn how to use his voice and unlearn the workarounds that his throat came up with to compensate for the diseased fold.

Kim from Dr. Z's office called late yesterday -- Tom hopes to hear from her this morning.

Have an appointment with Dr. Z first thing tomorrow morning, but we have to catch the 11 a.m. train afterwards, so it would make more sense to get in some initial treatment today so he can start practicing.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 Dec 10 - 08:54 AM

I like to hear continued good news!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: My guru always said
Date: 07 Dec 10 - 08:29 AM

Just managed to catch up with this fantastic news. So very glad that the op has gone so well, will keep sending positive thoughts for continuing recovery. Wonderful to hear that your voice is returning Tom, and great to read Jeri's description!!

So sorry to read all about your knee Linn, hope that your enforced rest has caught up some recovery and that things will improve for you!

Jeri, you are an absolute angel! Please note that Cat's tails do flare up quite quickly when lit, stand well back.

Sending warm thoughts to the wonderful Dr Z!!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: Bill D
Date: 06 Dec 10 - 06:31 PM

What a tale! I follow all this, but don't chime in regularly. I am not sure whether I feel more concern for Tom's throat or Linn's knee and back! (How about 75% for both!)
...discard jokes about "song & dance team"...

What I DO hear in all this is how much you both care for each other and what great friends you have up there...particularly one who deals with the cats. ☺

Very best wishes for continued improvement for both of you... keep on keeping on!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: GUEST,kfarmnh
Date: 06 Dec 10 - 06:12 PM

Way to go both of you... Book rush is on.
Working Sun-Wed+ some of next week. Doubt we will get to PR before leaving.
My buddy ML is not doing well, prognoses is dismal.Will call you when you get home. Keep up the good work, we need some good news.
Love,          j

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: Jeri
Date: 06 Dec 10 - 05:27 PM

Tom, I don't know that it wasn't a bit higher pitched than previously, but what I DID discover was how much your voice has to do with almost everything except what's making the noise. I would have recognized it was you because of your diction, enunciation, emphasis, and basically everything else that shapes the sound.

Hope you get in to see the voice therapist. It will likely involve doing things out of your comfort zone, possibly involving the Ministry of Silly Noises. I bet you have to get used to operating the new cord set-up, too. Must be weird having your voice change again!

I had things to do at home today, so I didn't get over to your house. I just went out to the mail box, and it's windy and COLD (mostly because of the wind). Tomorrow, I have a full day involving the gym, shopping and the dentist. I'll get over in the morning to feed,water and pet the fire and light the cats.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: gnu
Date: 06 Dec 10 - 03:26 PM

Well, I gotta bit of a frog in me t'roat and a wee bit a moisture in me eyes! DAMN this is good news!

And, like was said many times on Kendall's threads, as far as getting yer old voice back, nowt to be concerned. That's not the important thing.

Take care both.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: GUEST,curmudgeon
Date: 06 Dec 10 - 03:19 PM

A bit more voice, but with more volume some of the time. It's rather hard to explain partly ecause, perhaps, my voice is only a memory to me, and I'm not sure if I sound amnything like I used to..I'll let some of you be the judges of that when I get around to the round of phone calls yet to come.

No voice rehab today, perhaps tomorrow. Anon - Tom

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: GUEST,kendall
Date: 06 Dec 10 - 02:57 PM

Thank you Doctor Z!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: SINSULL
Date: 06 Dec 10 - 02:14 PM

Great news, Jeri! Thank you.
SINS at work.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon: Voice Restoration, Part 2
From: jacqui.c
Date: 06 Dec 10 - 12:44 PM

Great news Jeri!