![\"UConn](\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Ed-Favolise-group-1_cropped.jpg\")
<\/a>Now one patient\u2019s lost voice has been restored, thanks to his very own fat cells being put to good use.<\/p>\n
In 2013, Ed Favolise, 70, a retired superintendent of schools in Connecticut, had surgery to remove a precancerous tumor from his upper-right chest. However, part of the tumor encased a nerve in control of his right vocal cord that became severed during surgery, leaving his right vocal cord paralyzed in an open position and a major gap between his two vocal cords.<\/p>\n
For three years, while pursuing all possible remedies at three different medical centers, Favolise was left nearly speechless due to his paralysis. His voice was limited to a squeaky, high-pitched whisper. He also could only use his severely weakened voice for short periods of time before becoming hoarse or completely losing his voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cIronically my life\u2019s work as a teacher, coach, and superintendent of schools was mainly talking to students, teachers, parents, and legislators \u2013 plus I am a very social person,\u201d says Favolise. \u201cAbruptly having my voice silenced from surgery left me with a very low quality of life, and when I was out socializing I would be left out, just sitting and listening to my friends talking.\u201d<\/p>\n
Even five surgeries and continuous voice therapy at two different highly rated New England hospitals couldn\u2019t successfully bring his paralyzed vocal cord completely back to its normal, centered position, permitting it to vibrate off his left vocal cord so he could fully speak again.<\/p>\n
\nMy experience shows that sometimes you need to be willing to take a chance on a pretty surprising, promising alternative medical solution and procedure. — Ed Favolise<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Last year, Favolise turned to the prestigious Voice Center at UConn Health led by Dr. Denis Lafreniere, chief of the Division of Otolaryngology, and to the care of speech pathologist Janet Rovalino, who diagnosed his excessive outward airflow as stemming from a gap that was still present between his vocal cords.<\/p>\n
Vocal cords, both left and right, only function normally when they come together completely in unison to valve a person\u2019s outward airstream to create sound, which can be used for purposes of speech.<\/p>\n
ENT specialist Lafreniere teamed up with plastic surgeon Chen to try to offer an innovative solution to Favolise\u2019s problematic right vocal cord, and fill the remaining gap between his right and left vocal cords.<\/p>\n
The solution? Fill the edge of the right vocal cord with fat cells to plump it up permanently into the proper position where it comes in contact with the left vocal cord.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was very surprised by the plans to use my own fat as a cure,\u201d says Favolise. \u201cBut I was so frustrated with my inability to speak, I was receptive to anything that might work to get my voice back.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Favolise was in the operating room at UConn Health for the procedure, Lafreniere and Chen withdrew fat cells from Favolise\u2019s abdomen, processed and measured them to make sure they had enough pure fat cells, and placed them directly into his injured vocal cord to fatten it up via a needle injector through a laryngoscope.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy speech improved immediately and significantly,\u201d says Favolise. \u201cThe power of my own fat cells is just remarkable. My right vocal cord, which was\u00a0once paralyzed, is now properly and permanently centered in place where it should be, so it can vibrate correctly against my left vocal cord and permit me to speak normally.\u201d<\/p>\n
Says Lafreniere, \u201cWe are very happy to have helped Ed and so many patients like him get their voices, lives, and careers back.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a proud UConn Husky with two graduate degrees in education, Favolise is very thankful to his alma mater UConn and its academic medical center for giving him his voice back.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the first time in three years I am finally now able to have normal conversations with my wife, family, colleagues, and friends,\u201d he says. \u201cThank you UConn, Drs. Lafreniere and Chen, and speech pathologist Janet Rovalino. You\u2019ve restored my quality of life to what it was before my right vocal cord was damaged.\u201d<\/p>\n
Favolise advises others who are looking for medical help for an ongoing health issue not to stop until they\u2019ve exhausted all their medical options. \u201cMy experience shows that sometimes you need to be willing to take a chance on a pretty surprising, promising alternative medical solution and procedure.<\/p>\n
“Plus,” he adds, “I\u2019m happy the fat cells used in my throat came from my abdomen area and not my butt, like I originally thought.\u201d<\/p>\n
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