From Scarring to Strength: My Voice Journey
When people hear my voice, they often notice that it sounds different. What they can’t hear is the journey behind it — a journey marked by surgery, setbacks, and ultimately, resilience.
Several years ago, I had a large polyp removed from one of my vocal folds. What should have been a straightforward procedure instead left me with scarring on both vocal cords. Suddenly, something I had always taken for granted — my voice — became fragile, hoarse, and uncertain.
The Setbacks
In the months that followed, I went through additional treatments to calm inflammation. Later, I underwent two fat graft procedures in hopes of restoring my voice. Both failed to give me the improvement I was praying for. It was heartbreaking. Speaking, something that connects us to the world, had become a daily reminder of loss.
Each failed treatment felt like another door closing. I remember sitting in yet another doctor’s office, hearing about another procedure that might help, and feeling both desperate hope and crushing fear of disappointment. The emotional toll was perhaps harder than the physical changes to my voice.
Finding a Path Forward
But I wasn’t done fighting. I pursued another intervention: Gore-Tex implants in my vocal folds. This didn’t restore my voice to what it once was, but it gave me something even more valuable — stability. My sound became more consistent, and I slowly began to find confidence in speaking again.
The Gore-Tex procedure marked a turning point, not just physically but mentally. For the first time in years, I could predict how my voice would sound from day to day. That consistency, even if it wasn’t “perfect,” gave me back a sense of control.
The Emotional Journey
This is the truth about life with a voice disorder: it’s not just physical, it’s deeply emotional. There were times I wanted to stay silent, to withdraw, to hide. But instead, I chose to keep speaking. To share. To stand in front of people with my imperfect, hoarse, scarred voice and say: I am still here.
The silence would have been easier. In quiet moments, no one would notice my voice changes. No one would ask questions or look confused when I spoke. But silence also meant isolation, and I realized that my voice — changed as it was — still had value.
Redefining Normal
Today, my voice doesn’t sound “normal.” And that’s okay. Because my voice carries something greater than perfect sound — it carries strength, survival, and the courage to keep going.
I’ve learned that “normal” is a moving target. My voice today is normal for me. It’s the voice that survived multiple surgeries, that pushed through disappointment, that refused to be silenced by setbacks. This voice has earned every note, every word, every imperfection.
What I’ve Learned
Through this journey, I’ve discovered truths I never expected:
Resilience grows in unexpected places. Each setback taught me that I was stronger than I thought. Each small improvement felt like a victory.
Community matters more than perfection. The people who truly care about me adapted to my voice changes. They listened more carefully, showed more patience, and valued what I had to say over how I sounded saying it.
Advocacy begins with acceptance. Once I stopped fighting my voice and started working with it, I became a better advocate for myself and others with voice disorders.
Strength has many voices. Some days my strength sounds confident and clear. Other days it sounds hoarse and tired. Both versions are valid.
To Others on This Path
If you’re living with a voice disorder, I want you to know: you are not alone. Your voice, whatever it sounds like, still matters. It is still worthy of being heard.
Your journey may be different from mine. You may find treatments that work better, or you may face different challenges. But whatever your path, remember that your voice carries more than sound — it carries your thoughts, your experiences, your humanity.
Don’t let anyone, including yourself, convince you that a changed voice means a diminished person. You are not defined by your vocal cords. You are defined by your courage, your persistence, and your willingness to keep speaking your truth.
The Ongoing Journey
My voice continues to evolve. Some days are better than others. I’ve learned to pace myself, to rest when needed, and to celebrate the small victories. I’ve also learned to be honest about the challenges without letting them define my limitations.
This isn’t a story with a fairy-tale ending where everything is restored to “normal.” It’s a real story about adaptation, acceptance, and finding strength in unexpected places. It’s about learning that sometimes our scars become our sources of power.
My voice may bear the marks of surgery and struggle, but it also bears the marks of survival. Every word I speak is a testament to the journey I’ve traveled and the person I’ve become along the way.
And that voice — scarred, strong, and undeniably mine — continues to have something important to say.
If you have your own voice journey story to share, we’d love to hear from you. Visit our Community Voices page to share your experience and connect with others who understand the path you’re on.