Botox and Piano

Botox and Piano. What in the world do those two words have in common?? One word. Rich!

BOTOX:
Yesterday (Wednesday) we made a one-day trip to Kansas City, up and back, nearly six hours of driving for what turned out to be a less than a fifteen minute procedure for Rich. After consulting with a voice specialist at KU Medical Center in early December, he has begun Botox treatments for his voice.

In the early 90s, Rich underwent several of these treatments for his vocal condition, spasmodic dysphonia, all with mixed results. The last treatment caused him to be voiceless for six months so since he was in a speaking profession he discontinued them. Time has produced new treatment and techniques and this new doctor felt he could help him so the process has restarted. Rich will go back in six weeks for vocal testing and evaluation. This is not a cure-all, merely treatments that will be administered every three months. He has a voice today, so that is a good sign. It may take several days/weeks before there's any noticeable improvement.

The original treatments consisted of inserting a tube/scope up his nose and down his throat so that the muscles for the vocal cords could be located. Then a single shot was given. This new doctor's technique is to place two electrodes on the side of his neck which indicate when the needle is in the right place. He received two shots in his neck/throat, so that was sore. All very interesting. Pray for good results!

PIANO:
Today was his usual Thursday to play the piano at Mid-Town Towers, an apartment building here in town for mostly elderly seniors. Each Thursday they have chapel with local pastors rotating and giving a short devotion and Rich plays the piano for their hymn sing. It's very sweet and the little ladies especially love him! :)

Then immediately after that we went to Presbyterian Manor, another of the several assisted living/retirement homes in town, where he was asked to give a 20 minute piano concert and share his testimony. At Presby he played "Pennies from Heaven", "I Love You Truly", some short classical preludes and sonatinas, and "Great is Thy Faithfullness". So I joined him for both and again, everyone present loved the piano.

Tonight he is rehearsing with the local male vocal group, Hearts 4 Him. The've asked him to accompany them at a local gig the end of March.

His fingers aren't as nimble as they once were and all this playing makes his arthritic hands ache, but he does enjoy it and it's a great way to give to others. Plus I love hearing him rehearse, although I must say that I'm glad he's done with "Pennies from Heaven". It went round 'n round in my head! HA!