hi lisa, i am reading your posts and very touched by your situation.. my father had 3/4 of his tongue removed amongst some other surgery, today was the first time he was in a store since October of last year.. his surgery was december of last year and he was afraid of looking "different" and afraid of the stares.. i told him he looked great and some people dont even look as good as him without the surgery! had to throw some humor in there :-).. you will pull through this.. i have learned through my father, that no, life will not be the same, BUT it will be the new "normal" life.. i am sorry you are going through this.. you will be in my thoughts and prayers.. stay strong!
nicki

Dad-55 yrs..2/2010-DX/March 2010-Induction Chemo/35Rads 7weeks concurrent with chemo once every 3weeks/6/2010-Treatments completed-October 2010-Recurrence/December 2010-salvage surgery/clear Margins/July 2011-recurrence/weekly Erbitux treatments-5/30/12, last erbitux..
Painfree and rested 6/19/12