I’m Taking Time Out for Repairs and Upgrades

UPDATE: The procedures went well. I am resting and not in much pain. Back to sleep....

For health reasons I’ll likely miss a day or two of posting here. I’m sad about it; I love my morning sessions at the keyboard. Plus, January 6th is happening. I hope I don’t miss much.

Sometime in the ridiculously early morning (3:15 am alarm!) I’ll be on a surgical table in La Jolla.

After four mostly failed attempts at reconstructing my pharynx and larynx, they’re going back in with a couple of tweaks. One should eliminate the constant pain I’ve felt for the last three months and the other might enable me to consume real food someday. (might and someday are the words to watch.)

Nobody’s promising that I’ll ever be able to vocalize again, but there’s potentially good news on that front, as I’m supposed to be getting some software that might allow vocalization through an iPad. I’ll take it, as the combination of no voice and pandemic-induced social isolation really sucks. 

The procedures are simple; I could be home by sunset. Unless I’m not. The backstory on this deal is that, while they got the cancer in December 2020, the postoperative patching up hasn’t worked. 

It’s nobody’s fault; the process of grafts and pulling muscle flaps isn’t simple. The care at UC La Jolla is top shelf. 

What I’m facing if this procedure doesn’t work out as expected, is a complete reconstruction of my throat and the connections to the esophagus. The surgeons could see something they don’t like this time, or I might not heal as expected.   

I’ll cross that bridge when the time comes, with a song in my heart and a positive vision for the future. 

There’s another thing… I’m giving up having a website. This weekend (provided I’m able to sit up) Words and Deeds will migrate to a platform (Substack) which will free me from what have turned out to be unnecessary maintenance and upgrade duties. Look for another post with details, once I get past my trepidations.