Thank you so much for your kind responses. I'm still frightened but after reading this forum I can at least get the image of someone taking a piece of my tongue with a pair of pinking shears out of my too vivid imagination! Oh my, the thoughts that wander through my head.

Aimee, it sounds like you've been through what I'm going to experience and you've definitely put my mine at ease. Thanks for the comfort and the good advice.

Helen, I really like the idea of using flash cards to communicate. I'm sure that will help a lot. I'm making a note to myself about using gentle pressure on the trach dressing. Thanks for the tip. And the sunshine.

Helen