Laryngoscopy with Vocal Cord Augmentation ✔️

​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 for 24-48 hours. Recovery time is a week or two.  He’ll have a follow up on May 12th with the doctor.  

For now, I can tell that his voice is better than before  it should strengthen over the next week to two weeks as swelling goes down and he is able to talk more after resting it after the procedure.  This procedure is a temporary fix and the injection will absorb back into the body and go away in 3-6 months.  If it’s effective, he’ll go back in for a more permanent fix at a later date. 

Also, I would like to add that as of today he’s 3 months post his last chemo treatment (round 6 - Dec. 18, 2025) and 5 months post-surgery (Oct. 21, 2025).  In retrospect, I can’t believe all that he’s been through on this journey and how incredibly well he’s doing.  He has finally gotten past feeling sick after eating, he’s not losing weight anymore, and he is getting some energy back.  If his voice comes back, that would be amazing.  

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