Can you hear me now?

In an earlier post (Early Detection Possible?) I talked about losing my voice. I didn't have much volume or energy to talk for many months. I was audible as long as there was no competing noise. So I was still able to communicate with my colleagues in the office, but if I walked out in the street or sat in a restaurant, I couldn't even hear myself talk. I thought it was a side effect of the inhalers I was using. Eventually I discovered that the cancer had spread to my lymph node. The growing tumor in the lymph node was pressing on the nerve that controls the movement of my left vocal cord causing left vocal cord paralysis. The left vocal cord was unable to meet the right one, which also caused me to be breathless when I talked and choke when I swallowed. 


My oncologist said that the paralysis might be permanent, because a nerve is hard to repair once it's been damaged. He sent me to see a specialist to inject a botox-like substance into the left vocal cord. This injection would enlarge the left vocal cord temporarily to meet the right vocal cord. That way I would be able to speak, breath and swallow a little easier. The results were as anticipated. My voice, breathing and swallowing wasn't the way it used to be, but better than without the injection. 


I went for a check up 3 months later, and told the specialist that my voice is gradually coming back, but I didn't have the volume. He numbed my nose and inserted a tiny video camera up my nose and down my throat to check the vocal cord. EEEEEE. AAAAA. He saw slight movement in my left vocal cord. It looked promising. 


A few days ago, I went for my regular 3 month check up and had the video camera down my throat again. EEEEE. AAAAA. My left vocal cord was MOVING! I can have my voice back! The specialist thought everything looked good enough that I didn't have to see him anymore. I couldn't stop smiling as I walked out of his office.