Location: Bethlehem, CT
Challenge: Largynectomy
Website: facebook.com/ttalmich
On January 23, 1990, Tony Talmich went to the Emergency Room of the Florida Medical Center at Ft Lauderdale in Florida with severe laryngitis and trouble breathing.
Having been a singer and a drummer since early childhood, he attributed these symptoms to overuse of his voice. The next morning he awoke to learn that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 throat cancer and the only option was immediate surgery which resulted in the complete removal of his larynx (voice box) as well as a radical neck bisection.
While recovering from this drastic surgery Tony underwent radiation treatment.
He immediately began working on new ways to speak and went back to drums despite almost complete paralysis in his left arm.
He says "To get back to drumming, I had to learn to play my snare with my left foot on an electric pad till I got feeling back in my lower left arm".
Now, 27 years later, Tony is considered one of the best post-largynectomy speakers in the world, and a still a highly regarded drummer.
Still not content with all of his acomplishments, Tony decided to approach singing again. He adds "I m the only LARYNGECTOMY in the world who sings with an artificial voice. Called an Electro Larynx, I also am the spokes person for people who have lost there voice. I teach them to speak again".
Now living in Connecticut, Tony has beenworking regularly with the David Morin Elvis Tribute The magic of Elvis and a Jersey Boys Tribute Show. Tony adds "I am currently working in a 70s 80s Funk R&B Motown Disco dance show. And the show is doing very well".
The organizations Tony works with are Web Whispers, and the International Association of Laryngectomees, Tony adds "These are the conferences which Griffin Labs attends these are where I teach".
Tony says "I still don't consider myself as disabled, sense I feel I have overcome my limitations. Even though I know I am"
Tony Talmich - Last Kiss