An innovative procedure performed by Israeli surgeon Dr. Yael Oestreicher-Kedem has given a woman her voice back after 10 years. 53-year-old Shirli Aharon lost the use of her voice a decade ago when she was diagnosed with spasmodic dysphonia— a neurological condition that affects speech. The mother of three thought that she would never speak again, until Dr. Oestreicher-Kedem informed her of a new surgical treatment. The procedure entails taking fat tissue from the abdomen and inserting it into vocal folds to fill in muscle and prevent scarring that affects speech. Aharon agreed to the surgery and it was an immediate success. Upon waking up, Aharon’s speech was completely restored and she was able to speak without issue. This medical accomplishment is a sign of hope for spasmodic dysphonia patients around the world.
Image via The Jerusalem Post
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