Dear Friends
On July 30th (my birthday) I had my throat checked by Dr. Joseph Sugarman, one of the finest ear, nose and throat doctors around.
I had quit smoking on May 22nd 2002 and I thought I would let him look down my throat with this new camera that lets you see your vocal cords on the screen. When Dr Sugarman said “I don’t like the looks of those white spots on your vocal cords” I almost fainted on the spot, thinking that maybe it could be throat cancer.
I was never so scared in my life. He asked me if I had ‘acid reflux’, I didn’t even know what that meant, so I was sent down for a test later to find out if I had it.
I had to stay on medication for a month and wait to find out the results, and then to return to see if it was anything more than just acid reflux, or something worse. It was the hardest, saddest, and most depressing time of my life.
I had tears of anger at myself for ever smoking in the first place. Who was I to insult the Lord who gave me this wonderful gift to sing and communicate with the people of the universe? What I’m getting at is that I was just taking it for granted and throwing it in his face. I prayed all this time through the depression. As hard as it was, I had nowhere and no-one to run to. If I was to pay the price I would have to pay it alone.
My voice is my trade, my love, my only true friend since I was born and if I couldn’t have it anymore I didn’t want to live anymore.
Praise the Lord, my prayers were answered. Dr. Sugarman said today that I did a 100% turnaround, and he was very proud of me, my cords looked clean!
I cried like a baby to anyone who would listen, for I asked God not to take my voice and my prayer was answered. I was lucky, and blessed.
I’m not trying to preach, but if you smoke, or do copenhagen etc, please stop for your own and your loved one’s sake.
There are products to help: well-brutrin, the patch, etc… it’s worth it. It’s a horrible way for any human to suffer .
God bless you all for listening to a happy man!
Frank Stallone
