Amy, I am just stunned that you and your husband have to deal with this after all you have been through. Please know I am another sending all good wishes your way.

I, too, had a trach, and the scariest thing about it was the suctioning. When I first awoke after the surgury, there were a lot of secretions and a couple of times I had to gesture wildly to get some suction, so stay close and watch for that.

As far as healing, I am no spring chicken, but mine healed very rapidly - probably a week or maybe ten days at the most. And nobody told me about putting my fingers over it to talk, so it might have been even faster if I had.

When this is all done, you will be able to feel the sighs of relief from all parts of this country and beyond.