Brian you are a wise man. One of my biggest difficulties is dealing with how different my life will be from now on, but I try to focus on being grateful for the opportunity to have such a different life. You are correct about having to face mortality - it is not something that a lot of us have thought about.

Rett I had 80% of my tongue removed in Sept 08 and I am able to swallow - how well depends on the thickness of what I am trying to swallow. My therapist told me that if I don't keep trying to swallow I will lose the ability to swallow and that it will get better the more I try. I don't know the truthfulness of this, but I am able to swallow thicker substances the more I try. Maybe that will help spark some interest with your dad.