Hello KevinJMS,

Welcome to OCF and thank you for sharing your story. I am so sorry to hear of the cancer and your challenges after surgery. In early 2020 at age 52, I had half my tongue removed and a flap from my wrist to replace the removed half, and all my nodes removed on the same side of my neck. I will tell you speech, eating, drinking, took a long time even with half of my original tongue. I had to learn to be very patient with myself. But, over many months, my speech kept improving, today most people will hear a lisp but I am understandable to strangers. And, I find most people very patient when I am not.

Does he have any original tongue muscle left? If he can make noises with it now that is a good sign. Do you have a speech pathologist assigned?

I kept video logs of me reading passages or messages to loved ones. It was good to occasionally go back and listen to them as I would realize I made more progress than I thought. I also kept a written journal. It helped me sort out my fears, anxieties, keep track of questions for my doctors, etc.

I will send you a private message (access under your name in the upper right). Might be good to connect live as it is easier to offer support with a live exhange.

Stay safe and keep the faith,
Nels