A Lesson about Vocal Cords

Lane questioning my intelligence on this subject matter.

Let me teach you something that I didn't learn until the age of 34, the day after Lane was born...vocal cords do more than help you vocalize! Maybe you are reading this and rolling your eyes at how I couldn't have figured that out before now, but I am choosing to believe that many others are just as ignorant to all of the functions that vocal cords serve.

As it turns out, vocal cords have a lot to do with breathing, eating and (of course) vocalizing. Your vocal cords should open and close when you inhale and exhale. (Mind blowing.) They close when you inhale so that other things do not get into places where they shouldn't go. (i.e. food, spit, liquid) They open when you breathe so that air can get to where it needs to go. (i.e. lungs)

This picture shows how healthy vocal cords function

Lane was diagnosed with Bilateral Vocal Cord Paresis/Paralysis. This basically means his vocal cords are mostly frozen. They do not work like that should. His happen to be frozen in a closed position. This means that he has less of a chance of things going where they should go. (i.e. food, spit liquid into lungs) It also means that he has a more difficult time breathing since the air has such little room to squeeze through. The following picture shows Lane's vocal cords. That is about as far apart as they get. So, he can breathe on his own for awhile, but he has to work hard and easily tires.

Lane's vocal cords

Vocal cords can change over time. It is fairly rare to grow out of Bilateral Vocal Cord Paresis/Paralysis, but it has been known to happen. Thankfully there are surgeries that can be done if needed. There is not a surgery that can make the vocal cords function like they should. In Lane's case it would be a matter of opening up that gap a little more so that he can breathe easier, and without a trach. It would stay more open and not be able to close. The problem with doing that is it could create other problems. (i.e. aspirating/choking) We are praying for a miracle so that we don't have to make such tough choices for him in his future. He has endured more in his 8 months of life than I have in my 35.

Do you see how complicated vocal cords are?! Who knew they did such important work?! This leads me to another, very important, conclusion...Ursula must have figured out a way to take only her voice, but still allow Ariel's vocal cords to mobilize so she could breathe. 😲