Voicebox procedure

We got home tonight after having the voicebox procedure this afternoon.  We were looking at the weather forecast and decided to drive up Saturday instead of driving up Sunday afternoon.  The other complexity was not knowing my report time until Sunday after 8:15 pm.  That is just part of Mayos procedures.  Dad Sauder also decided to go with us when we knew the weather was going to be bad.  The good thing was that the roads were only bad for a few miles till we got through Peoria, then they were dry.  Lots of people where in the ditch on I-155 which is our first 10 miles.

Yesterday was a long day as we waited for bedtime to roll around.  I played a few games of chess with Wesley.  He is just learning to play.  After we listened to church we went to Applebee's for lunch/supper.  We took all the kids along and they did pretty good.

The voicebox procedure went fine without complications.  After the swallow study on the last trip, the surgeon could see that all he needed to do was the injection, not the dilation.  I checked in a little before 11, and we were on the road by 4 this afternoon.  This was a simple enough procedure there is more time spent in preop than in the actual procedure.  So he used a needle to inject collagen into the right vocal cord.  The goal is to make it larger so it closes against the left side better.  I'm not supposed to talk for the first day.  Then I will have a weaker and hoarse voice for 2-4 weeks.  Then it should be better for 3-6 months.  After that it is unknown whether the improvement will continue or fade away.  Dr Ekbom hopes it helps my swallowing too.  The voice he fully expects to be better.

Thanks for everyone's prayers.  I was surprised when the surgeon mentioned that he prays for his surgeries each morning.  It shouldn't surprise me but I guess it is just that I appreciate it so much.

We hope everyone has a good Christmas week spending time with families and remembering what Christ did for us.  It must have been humbling to leave the splendor of heaven and coming to earth knowing he would end up dying for us.

Derek & Leann