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For Valentine’s Day, I’m having my throat slit while awake

And what’s more, I’m excited about it.

The benign brain tumor next to my brain stem in the cranial nerve area is finally fried and won’t cause more problems. But it paralyzed one of my vocal cords. Socially, it’s debilitating because if there is background noise, no one can hear me.  On microphone I do fine but I have had to limit my speaking engagements because the vocal cord gets tired.

The tumor was first discovered by Charles in 1999. Two craniotomies, one in 1999 and the other in 2000, a cranial reconstruction in 2003, and then radiation in 2017 has left me with a few deficits that I’ve incorporated as part of my charm.

I was getting botox injections under my vocal cord to help with voice quality but they were not lasting as long as they should. The last one wimped out after three weeks when it was supposed to stick around for six months. This surgery called medialization thyroplasty will be a more permanent solution. Because it’s an implant, it will be inserted through my throat, hence the “slit throat” comment.

The tough part is I have to be awake for the forty-five minute procedure. I won’t be getting the cocktail that makes me not care if they eat cheese and crackers off my belly either. But I’ve had to be awake for far worse procedures. Once you’ve been woken up with your head open, you tend to minimize any future issues with being awake while in surgery.

I’ve done my “before video” and will merge it with an “after video” and I’ll share it here. Wish me luck!

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AnneMoss Rogers

AnneMoss Rogers is a mental health and suicide education expert, mental health speaker, suicide prevention trainer and consultant. She is author of the Book, Diary of a Broken Mind and co-author of Emotionally Naked: A Teacher's Guide to Preventing Suicide and Recognizing Students at Risk with Kim O'Brien PhD, LICSW. She raised two boys, Richard and Charles, and lost her younger son, Charles to addiction and suicide on June 5, 2015. She is a motivational speaker who empowers by educating and provides life saving strategies and emotionally healthy coping skills. As talented and funny as Charles was, letting other people know they matter was his greatest gift. And now that's the legacy she carries forward in her son's memory. Mental Health Speakers Website.

16 thoughts on “For Valentine’s Day, I’m having my throat slit while awake”

  1. Good luck Anne Moss! I hope the procedure goes well, fixes the problem and had a quick recovery. Keep us posted, I’ll be thinking about you!

  2. I’m confident that you’ll be well served by having this procedure. I know you and know that you’ve researched the heck out of this situation and procedure.
    I’m just sorry that you have to endure it. Prayers are headed your way for peace, relaxation (somehow) and success in all things.
    XXOO your Galentine girl,
    Diane

  3. Anne Moss you know I will be praying for your speedy recovery and the surgeons calm and healing touch!! And I love ALL of the support shown for you here!!

    Xoxo

  4. Exciting news! I hope the procedure will go flawlessly and will give you the results you need. Seriously, nothing like a brain tumor (malignant or benign) to give you a different way of seeing things in life. Thanks for letting us all know so we can be thinking about and praying for you. ❤️

  5. Hi Anne! The scalpel got my attention! I will be sending all positive thoughts your way tomorrow, brave one!

    ❣️Robin

  6. Good Luck tomorrow with your surgery Anne! Keeping you & your Doctors in my prayers. Pray for a speedy recovery. We need you back out on the speaking circuit. xoxo

  7. Wow, Anne! You are such a brave woman! I have to say every blog you have written shows me that.
    Best of luck to you through this procedure. You will be in my prayers!
    You don’t know how much being connected through this blog and your personal help have meant to me. It’s been a Godsend!
    Hugs, Jayne

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