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A letter from a concerned person is met with helpful words by someone who has been there and does that.

By Herb Simon
Reprinted with permission from the author

ORIGINAL MESSAGE

Hi there -- my friend had a partial laryngectomy in March of 1998 but now the tumor has grown back -- large in size -- and he will be meeting with a radiation oncologist next week to discuss radiation and/or total laryngectomy. My question is: he has always been a salesman of some sort -- mostly car sales -- and with the total laryngectomy (if it comes to that) he will not be able to do that type of work. Do you know where he might be able to inquire about the possibility of social security disability if he can't work? Have you heard anything about whether a total laryngectomy even qualifies for any type of disability status? I'd really appreciate any info you might have. Thanks.

Hi,
My name is Herb Simon. I am a laryngectomee. I rarely write much on-line but your friends story really hit home for me and I feel that I need to share some of my thoughts and just hope that they will be helpful. I will start by saying that I realize that all laryngectomees are different, just as I realize that all people are different. I too thought of all the alternative methods of income and also I thought that if I could ever sell again, I could make a lot more money than disability income would offer. If John was a good salesman up until now, he has a good chance to be just as good or even a better salesman after a total laryngectomee. I sold and managed in the car business for more than 10 years earlier in my sales career, so I am knowledgeable of what it takes to be successful. I am now a Real Estate salesman in MD and VA. I was diagnosed with Cancer of the larynx in October, 1994 and underwent 6 weeks of radiation that killed the cancer. I was radiated every weekday morning at 7:30am and worked my regular schedule during this time. My voice returned to normal for a short time until the cancer reappeared in May, 1995. It was spreading fast! I had a total laryngectomy in June of 1995. At that time, I actually thought that I would never be able to be a salesman again. I thought that without my natural voice, which was deep and resonant, I would be rendered ineffective. I might add that in the months preceding my operation, my voice had been reduced to a whisper and that I had already resorted to writing my thoughts on a few occasions. I worked up until the day before my operation and had already prepared for the financial drought that I thought lied ahead. I had made enough money in the months prior to my operation to know that I had enough commissions coming in to pay my bills for the next six months. I had mentally prepared myself to concentrate on getting my physical self recuperated. I walked and walked and walked. From the third day after my operation, I walked the halls of the hospital, rolling the stand with my IV tubes in it. One lap the first time and progressing to about ten laps five times a day until my release from the hospital after 10 days. Although I was getting physically stronger, I was suffering from the fear of the unknown about my new voiceless self. I was speaking at that time with a Servox artificial larynx (AL) with an oral adapter. I was embarrassed when I went shopping and would use handwritten notes rather than draw attention, weird looks and laughter from those within earshot. It didn't take me long to figure out that they didn't have a problem with the way I sounded, I DID! I began going to a support group in August. I joined the Nu Voice Club of Northern Virginia. That was a great boost to my morale. In September, I joined the Laryngectomee Club of Montgomery County (LCMC) in Maryland. I highly recommend this for any laryngectomee whatever his/her situation. I am still an active member of both clubs today.

While I was recuperating I made myself do positive things. I had recently bought a computer and at first I only knew how to turn it on. I pushed myself to learn how to use the computer and walked a lot as I mentioned earlier. I tried to do positive things and not let myself be overcome with negative thoughts. I thought that if I couldn't be a salesman anymore, possibly I could earn an income with computer skills. I didn't know how I was going to make ends meet, but I never lost faith that everything would be all right no matter what. The first week in October was the first time I was able to speak with the AL and not use the oral adapter. Suddenly, as if a miracle had occurred, I was able to speak and be perfectly clear and understandable to most people. All of a sudden, my self-confidence began to return. I returned to selling Real Estate on October 20, 1995 and made my first sale on the day before Thanksgiving. I sure had a lot to be thankful for. Once I had made all the adjustments and learned about my new self and produced my first sale, I completely let go of any fears about the future that may have remained. Today, I still speak with a Servox artificial larynx. I have been successful since my operation. I am active in the two Laryngectomee Clubs that I mentioned earlier because I feel it is important to help other larys that come after me. A member of the Virginia Club, Gary McLean, sells New and Used trucks at a Ford dealership in Northern Virginia-- he also picked up where he left off before his operation. He is probably at least as old as I am and I will soon be sixty. He speaks with a Servox too.

WHAT I am trying to say is that we are still salesman. Although we have lost our natural voice, we have not lost our knowledge of sales, our determination or our ability to communicate. We may sound different, but what we say is much more important than how we say it. After most of our customers have talked to us for awhile they don't even think about how we sound. There is a chance John can be at least as successful as he was or, maybe even more so, if he uses his new way of speaking to his advantage. As a salesman he has learned many skills over the years and has also learned that he must maintain a positive mental attitude. He has an uphill battle, but with a strong will and determination, he can weather the storm if he has a successful operation and recovery.

In my experience with laryngectomees, since my own operation, I have come to realize that most of us are just like we were before the operation. By that I mean that we have the same strengths and the same weaknesses as we had before we lost our voice boxes. All of us can do whatever we put our minds to if we have the faith and will to do it. I hope this helps some and will be very interested to hear how things go. I wish you all the very best of luck in the future and will be including you in my prayers.