A mother was unable to speak for nearly four years hopes her story will inspire other who have had tracheotomies.
Nichol Reed, 27, of Milledgeville, survived a terrible crash only to lose her voice. She was ejected from a car in that horrible crash.
Days later, she was stunned to see what doctors had to do to save her life. She found they had performed a tracheotomy. That's when a hole is cut in the neck to gain access to the windpipe.
The surgery reduced her soft-spoke Southern tone to a raspy, robotic voice. Months later, her windpipe collapsed and complications from surgeries that followed left her completely unable to speak.
But the days of reading lips, texting thoughts and jotting down requests are done. Over the last few months, doctors at Augusta's Medical College of Georgia have used cartilage from her ribs and skin grafts from her thigh to reconstruct her voice box.
It was two weeks ago that Nichol her real voice for the first time in nearly four years. Tammy Redd says her daughter has not stopped talking since she woke up from the surgery doctors performed.
It's a sound her family is happy to be hearing again.
Friday, May 17 2013 6:28 PM EDT2013-05-17 22:28:40 GMT
Melanoma is considered the deadliest form of skin cancer. A veteran dermatologist says he used to see three to five melanomas a year. Now, he says, he sees that many in a week!
Melanoma is considered the deadliest form of skin cancer. A veteran dermatologist says he used to see three to five melanomas a year. Now, he says, he sees that many in a week!
Thursday, May 16 2013 11:00 PM EDT2013-05-17 03:00:47 GMT
A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows millions of American kids suffer from mental health problems. Experts believe as many as 20 percent of American children are affected.
A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows millions of American kids suffer from mental health problems. Experts believe as many as 20 percent of American children are affected.
Thursday, May 16 2013 12:02 AM EDT2013-05-16 04:02:20 GMT
Hundreds of American troops have lost a leg or arm in Afghanistan because of improvised explosive devices or homemade bombs.
Hundreds of American troops have lost a leg or arm in Afghanistan because of improvised explosive devices or homemade bombs. It was 29-year-old John Kremer's job to find those hidden bombs, and safely destroy them. That's what the Buford man was trying to do, when one of them exploded right under his feet.
Wednesday, May 15 2013 6:42 PM EDT2013-05-15 22:42:54 GMT
"You're fired!" Those are two words you never want to hear from anyone, especially your own doctor. But that can happen when patients and physicians don't see eye-to-eye.
"You're fired!" Those are two words you never want to hear from anyone, especially your own doctor. But that can happen when patients and physicians don't see eye-to-eye.
Tuesday, May 14 2013 7:48 AM EDT2013-05-14 11:48:46 GMT
There are more than 31 million Americans enrolled in Medicare Part D. And according to a recent survey, more than a third are worried about prescription drug costs.
There are more than 31 million Americans enrolled in Medicare Part D. And according to a recent survey, more than a third are worried about prescription drug costs.
Monday, May 13 2013 6:08 PM EDT2013-05-13 22:08:35 GMT
It was a risky delivery: a young mother who'd lost one baby at birth was delivering her second child by C-section.
It was a risky delivery: a young mother who'd lost one baby at birth was delivering her second child by C-section. She was surrounded by more than a dozen specialists and nurses. But this high stakes birth wasn't in a hospital operating room. It was at Zoo Atlanta.
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Nichol Reed walks with her son who can now hear her voice for the first time in nearly four years.
