Linda talks about her permanent tracheotomy and even sings!

For those of you who don't have broad band I am interviewing Linda this morning who has a permanent tracheotomy which was actually the result of surgery she was told was to remove a cancerous thyroid. The biopsy indicated she did not have cancer at all but Hashimoto's which is an auto immune system condition. My surgeon had a biopsy done during the surgery and nothing can be done about Hashimoto's. Additional thyroid medicine is prescribed and this is what was wrong with Linda. She did not have cancer at all, but the surgeon did not write down what he told her was wrong, so no lawyer would take her case after he accidentally severed the laryngeal nerve. It cannot be repaired and she went into respiratory arrest several times before a permanent tracheotomy had to be done. Now she must pay $200 for her trach supplies which she says she cannot afford so has been using the same supplies over again after washing them out. This does not seem right! I hope she can get help with her supplies at least.
However, I think her attitude is courageous, even though she says her condition sometimes depresses her, which I think it would anybody. She even got her voice back after nearly five years and sings the national anthem on this video! I was talking to Linda throughout her ordeal over five years ago, and was horrified to think she would come out of it with a permanent 'trach'. Singing was always her hobby. She was loving to sing Celine Dion songs when we were doing karoake back then. I hope to have her doing karoake soon. We are planning a Christmas carol karaoke style.
Oh yes, she asked if she could see herself on Doc's big screen so she and Doc had fun joking back and forth while that was going on. Then she watched me edit the video and upload it to You Tube, and Doc has promised to burn her two copies so she can give one to her mother.
I have changed the video picture so you will be able to see the top of her head. Video Photographer Gerry in the park sometimes boo boos. I still think the setting was gorgeous and the buses were not running so often. Isn't her little dog cute? His name is Toby Keith Urban for guess who? Ha.

P.S. Header photo of the Westward Ho is how it looks now. Linda and I live there and have known each other 6 or 7 years. We are filming to the new park a block away.