Becca in Austin's Page

Dan's surgery went very well indeed! He did beautifully, no complications, is breathing on his own. Already alert and speaking in voice that is remarkably improved -- deep and resonant rather than weak and raspy. He's on a critical care floor where they can monitor him 24 hours a day and may even be released as soon as tomorrow. In a week they'll test for aspiration. If the surgery stopped it we are done and Dan will be able to eat and drink and gain weight and strength with no more pneumonia th… Continue

Big chance for a major turn-around in our lives. At 7 a.m. Texas time Dan will have a thyroplasty peformed which hopefully will stop his aspiration and allow him to eat and drink, as well as make his voice stronger. He is very weak from repeated aspiration pneumonia, though, and at high risk for complications and even death. So please, please, please keep us in your prayers tonight and tomorrow. Today is the longest day of the year as we both wait for and wonder about tomorrow. The good news is… Continue

Dear Friends, We met with the ENT surgeon today. On April 7th he will do a procedure (I believe it's called fibreplasty?) where he will surgically re-position Dan's paralyzed vocal cord in it's proper place, thereby covering his airway and hopefully stopping the aspiration of his secretions, which is causing the repeated pneumonia, which is killing him. If successful, the operation will strengthen his voice, allow him to eat and drink (he's been NPO for a year), and save his life. So it's a big,… Continue