Willie's cancer

​Yesterday we drove over to Seattle to UW Medical Surgery Center for Willie’s procedure to help fix his paralyzed left vocal cord.  The procedure is called “Laryngoscopy with Vocal Fold Augmentation” which basically involves injecting a gel into the vocal cord so it is plumped up and it works better. After getting pushed back from 1:30 to 3:30 they finally got him into the operating room at 4pm.  This procedure can either be in an OR or an office.  It’s a relatively short procedure but the prep time prior and after takes a bit of time.  He got anesthesia and a breathing tube and the procedure went off without a hitch. Everything went well and we left Seattle at 6pm and made it home to Wenatchee by 8:45pm.  Roads were clear.  No snow, just a bit of rain that cleared up around Ellensburg.  He has no pain at all   And hasn’t needed an aspirin or Tylenol.  He is on antibiotics for 5 days    Willie is supposed to use his voice minimally ...

It's crazy to think about how much we've gone through since 6/10/2025 when we found out about the tumor.  It was a short and also very long 7 months.  Now that Willie is done with chemo and it's been 2 months since his last treatment, and 4 months now since his esophogectomy surgery, he's on follow up visits and the journey to repair his paralyzed left vocal cord.   This past Thursday he did his labs and met with the oncologist, Dr. Naquin (knock-in).  The labs were all normal.  Next visit  and labs is in 3 months, May.  And in July (six-month follow up) is a scan.  After that regular follow ups first every three months, then every six months, then once a year for the next 5 years.  It's a journey and he still has a long road to recovery with his "new normal".   He meets with the surgeon next week on the 26th.  That will probably be the last time he meets with him. There's nothing additional to add there.  He still has his port...

​Today we drove to Seattle to meet with Otolaryngologist and Speech Therapist at University of WA Medical Center to learn more from this doctor about how they can help him with speech and also aspirating while drinking liquids. This has been an ongoing issue since surgery 10/21.  We learned that his left vocal cord is paralyzed on 1/12 in Wenatchee but they don’t handle this specialization in town.  This, the trip over the mountains    It was a beautiful day. The roads were clear.  Willie’s appointment was at 3:30.  We arrived around the 3PM and they got us in a bit early which was nice.   They did another camera through his nose and down his throat again as they didn’t have access to the films from Wenatchee.  They also did a swallow test with the camera in to see if various positions helped with speech or swallowing    Long story short, once insurance is approved, We will head back or for either an in office or OR treatment to put an i...

​The results are in.  Willie has vocal cord paralysis on his left cord.  The right one is working, basically overworking so it’s swollen. But the left side is broken.   They numbed his nose and put a camera down inside his throat and took some videos and photos.  They aren’t equipped to handle this in Wenatchee, so he is on an urgent referral to a specialist in Seattle.   Bottom left is this poster shows what they looked at.   This photo shows his actual throat, the epiglottis and his vocal cords.  Weird!  According to this PA they can’t ever fully fix it, but could improve it some though a few options; shots, surgery, building it up with something.  This damage likely caused by cutting the nerve during surgery or with the anesthesia during surgery doing damage to the nerve.  Hopefully, they will get him in quick and let him know the options   Neither of us are excited to drive to Seattle for this. 

​Eight days since Willie’s round 7 of chemo was supposed to take place and didn’t, we are now on a new quest; recovery and seeking help for his voice.  Yesterday, he did labs.  His bloodwork is significantly improved over the one a week ago.  He’s been eating and drinking more (small amounts more frequently) and no issues with nausea or vomiting this past week.  He does get stomach pains when he eats too much. He’s still getting used to portion size. But good news is his taste is back. We met with both the oncologist and surgeon this morning.  Willie decided not to do two more rounds of chemo (for 8 total). He’s done 6 and that’s enough for him as far as his mind  and body feels. He’s done ✔️ 🔔. Backtracking to Monday 1/5, he did a video swallow test with speech therapist.  It appears he does aspirate when drinking water.  It was interesting to watch the videos of him drinking water with barium so it shows on xray, to pudding, to crackers.  ...

​I’ll keep this short.  It was a rough last two weeks with round 6. Especially at Christmas-time with lots of nausea, vomiting, dizzy, dehydrated.   Willie had made up his mind to do round 7 today as scheduled.  I was skeptical and at peace with whatever he decided today, go or no.  Willie got blood test yesterday prior to today’s chemo.  We showed up at 8:30 to meet with new doctor Naquin (pronounced Knock-on). Dr. Voshtina, the oncologist the whole time, had her baby boy this morning.  Yay!   Decision made for us   He was too neutropenic and dehydrated to do this round  it would be unsafe.  Willie then said, “no more, if I can’t do it today, I’m done!”.  He is given fluids only today which is good!  That should help. We meet with Dr. Naquin again on 1/8   We also meet with Dr. Loewen (the surgeon) that day too.  I successfully got his swallow test and meeting with Speech Therapist (about his hoarse voice) from 1/7 t...