Bette, I understand your concerns. I think with your continued encouragement and some cajoling Reggie will move on.
Is he willing to try juice of some kind?
Kris would only drink thin liquids. Water, fruit juice to begin with , then he wanted coffee . Then he started to drink his nutritional drinks (Fortisip) rather than use the PEG. Reggie needs to be comfortable with his swallowing before he will attempt other things. Kris worried about dribbling and he often felt that his oral cavity remained "full". It wasn't of course , I needed to get a mirror and make him look in his mouth for his brain to recognise that there was not anything left.Remember with all the surgery sensation will be quite different from what it used to be for Reggie. He needs to train his brain too.
Bette, I think all we as caregivers can do is go slowly. Provide lots of gentle encouragement.
Kris is finding it impossible to move on from thin liquids when I know and the SLT has confirmed that he is able to swallow thicker consistencies. The man swallows his medications! I understand your frustrations.
How is Reggie getting his nutition? Does he have a PEG? Perhaps he could start some sips of this fluid. As long as he is meeting all his nutritional needs ,let him go slowly for a while with the oral fluids. However do ensure that he is swallowing. Practice makes perfect.
Try not to push too hard. Reggie will move on when he is ready.
Tammy

Caregiver/advocate to Husband Kris age 59@ diagnosis
DX Dec '10 SCC BOT T4aN2bM0 HPV+ve.Cisplatin x3 35 IMRT.
PET 6/11 clear.
R) level 2-4 neck dissection 8/1/11 to remove residual node - necrotic with NED
Feb '12 Ca back.. 3/8/12 total glossectomy/laryngectomy/bilat neck dissection/partial pharyngectomy etc. clear margins. All nodes negative for disease. PEG in.
March 2017 - 5 years disease free. Woohoo!