Whispers on the Web - October 2005 - WebWhispers Nu-Voice Club

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<strong>Whispers</strong> on the Web - October 2005 3/30/08 8:22 PM But really, those are only fleeting thoughts that arise when I am at my most frustrated. For these men, their villages had accepted them even without a new voice. They were treated quite well prior to my arrival. I was pleased to be able to help them and they truly seemed to be thankful. I was grateful for the contacts made with folks from around the world that helped me to help them. As much as I learned about electrolarynges and tracheoesophageal speech, I have come to realize that one of the oldest and the simplest options for talking after a laryngectomy has a vital role in certain situations and in certain parts of the world. BETWEEN FRIENDS Donna McGary "That which does not kill us makes us stronger" The last time I talked to you, I ended my journals where I began? Life goes on. Our lives are not always about the cancer nor its long tentacles which insinuate themselves into our everyday life. It is oftentimes a strange and difficult journey but once you get into the spirit of things it can be both eyepoppingly amazing and wondrously satisfying- despite the odds! Case in point?two roads?which given time, Dear Reader, will converge. First and foremost, my son and only child was married Sept 17, 2005 to an absolute sweetheart of a womanshe was new in his life when I first got sick and she has never wavered in her support of either one of us. She is such a pretty sweet young thing I am not sure who is more in love with her, my son or myself- she is truly the daughter I never had. At their wedding- a kind of down-home-ain?t those kids as cute as a bug in a rugtype thing when it?s a bunch of old Maine Yankees throwing the party- I danced with my son to the Cyndi Lauper song ?True Colors?. I will never be the same. I love his adaptability. There were months when I had no voice at all but he was the first to suggest that my Servox batteries could be hidden if I talked too much. He was the first to tease me and try it out himself and is always the first to defend me if I am uneasy. The love and support of my family and friends has always been a major bulwark in the ongoing process of recovery and rejuvenation. Rejuvenation is an interesting word?I AM NOT getting younger, but I have been forced to re-invent myself repeatedly?perhaps I am not rejuvenating but reincarnating! Well, I USED to like to talk A LOT, but I can?t. Not the same way anyway. And I can?t do imitations or voices?.I can?t whisper or shout or sing Christmas Carols or laugh out loud. I can write down words that try to convey those expressions and sometimes I do it very well, but I can not use that certain low voice right in your ear that says I love you nor laugh out loud at your jokes. I can?t murmur. I no longer have sweet undertones. So it was a bit of a shock to walk into the Park Plaza in Boston and hear that distinctive buzz and rasp all around me. I heard myself at every turn. I saw myself and I was nonplussed. You could have knocked me over with a feather. And yet I was strangely disquieted. I couldn?t possibly sound like these people. Face it, Donna, we have seen the enemy, and it is us! I still was hearing my old voice in my head and it was very hard to accept that wasn?t me anymore. I knew it?but sometimes it was just too much sitting in a class with all those terribly well-meaning SLP?s?I mean no disrespect-you all were great- but we have lost our voice and trying to learn to speak again is a mighty task and one I hope and pray you never have to learn. It was hard for me to be the center of all that concern and well-meaning pity. I talk very well using my Servox and love my new T-shirt from Jim Lauder that says ?Servox?We have ways of making you talk.? I loved being around people who didn?t blink an eye or struggle to understand me, but I was disquieted. And I was disquieted that I was disquieted. I was uncomfortable seeing so many mirror images of myself coughing and clearing and discreetly and bravely managing while we buzzed and burped and http://www.webwhispers.org/news/oct2005.htm Page 8 of 19
<strong>Whispers</strong> on the Web - October 2005 3/30/08 8:22 PM otherwise talked and laughed and flirted and generally carried on as if nothing was amiss. Because something is amiss and it is my voice- it is amiss-ing!! Although I admit that I bobbed and dodged a bit , the experience was invaluable. I look forward to the next IAL?I suspect I won?t be so taken aback by the many mirror images of myself. By the way, at my son?s after reception party, when I finally kicked off my shoes and had a glass of champagne, I was exchanging ripostes with the best man and my son and realized none of the guests still left nor my son even thought twice about my voice. It is, now, who I am. "Cruise Clues" by Pat Wertz Sanders, WW Cruise Coordinator (See our Cruise Index HERE) Inhealth "Stars and Stripes" Cruise Contest Winners The Inhealth "Stars and Stripes" Cruise Contest changed their Grand Prize from the cruise we originally had planned for after the 2006 Biloxi IAL to the same type accommodations for two on our WW Alaska Cruise in June 2006. Inhealth was able to donate $1,000 to the IAL from extra tickets sold and they drew for the winner at the Web<strong>Whispers</strong> dinner held on Friday evening at the Boston IAL. The winners, Leo and Jean Autote from Bloomington, CA now have reservations for an inside stateroom for two (prize worth $2200 paid for by InHealth) for the cruise from Anchorage to Vancouver. They may add the 4 day land tour, if they wish, by paying the additional for the pre-cruise tour, or they may enjoy the 7 day cruise down the coast of Alaska with full fares paid from Anchorage to Vancouver with our group. Leo Autote of Fall River, MA and Jean York of Raunds, England met and married in England in 1956 while Leo was stationed there with the USAF. Leo had a 22 year career with the USAF and retired in 1974 in Bloomington, CA continuing on as a firefighter with other companies until his cancer and laryngectomy in 1991. Jean enjoyed catering as a career until she retired as well. They have 4 adult children out in the world "doing their thing" as Leo says. They presently belong to the Inland Empire Nu-Voices club of the Riverside/San Bernardino CA. area; an active club and Leo presides as the CEO on the Board of Directors for them. They are also members of Web<strong>Whispers</strong>. After having been on one cruise last year, they are really looking forward to this one. Note that next year is their 50th wedding anniversary. Congratulations, Leo and Jean! Successful New England/Canada Cruise The only hard part of this cruise was getting rid of our luggage so we could check in and getting transportation to leave the cruiseport after getting it back again. This alone would keep me from ever using the Boston Port again. The cruise itself was spectacular with wonderful ports, good service and marvelous food. The Royal Caribbean ships we have been on always have many walls of glass and places to sit or walk where you can see everything. As you will see, when we have the cruise pictures online, it is gorgeous. http://www.webwhispers.org/news/oct2005.htm Page 9 of 19
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Whispers on the Web - October 2005 - WebWhispers Nu-Voice Club

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