Hi All,

Made it through the 3/8 UCLA Dr. Keith Blackwell SCC hemiglossectomy surgery, radial forearm flap reconstruction, neck node disection, peg, and trach. Actually, I feel pretty good and got great news: no traces in nodes and it is a T1. No Rad indicated. Trac was removed after 4 days and ate my first liquid meal on the eigth day and was released. I talk pretty well and have a new half of a tongue made from my left forearm (half was ok) which is less swollen everyday works pretty well. I am now eating a full liquid diet pureeing our food adding liquid and sometimes Thick It to thin liquids making them easy to swallow. Tried some grond meat the other night, it seemed to stick to the tongue but downed it with applesauce. My voice is not bad a little lispy. The arm donor site improves but I can't lift any weight and my hand is a little swolen. The home nursing comes everyday to change the dressings and check me over.

Regards,

Howard Crystal