‘Good morning! I want to go home’ were the first words of Brenda Jensen. A woman in United States of America is now able to speak after eleven years as a result of state of the art larynx transplant. The voice box transplant is a huge success for both the doctors and the family of Brenda Jensen. The operation took place in California. The woman called it a ‘miracle’.
The first word uttered by Brenda Jensen came after thirteen day surgery. It is the second time in history that a voice box is transplanted. It is the first time that a windpipe and a voice box are simultaneously transplanted. Brenda 52 years old had lost the ability to speak during a surgery in 1999. Her voice box was damaged as a result of the surgery.
Ever since the surgery, the tube injured Ms Jensen’s throat as it remained open. The scar tissues made her suffocate. She has been unable to smell or taste food. She took breath through a windpipe hole and used an electronic voice box to talk.
The surgery has indeed changed the fate of the lady. The surgery finds its origin in October when surgeons from University of California Davis Medical Center removed thyroid gland, voice box (larynx) a 6 cm windpipe from a donor body. The team of expert pioneered surgeons connected the donor organs into Brenda’s body by connecting nerves and blood supply within an 18 hour operation. She was able to speak thirteen days after the surgery.
The husband of Brenda, Mr. Jensen said that it is a blessing for him. He also said that this operation has restored their life. Brenda said that she can’t wait to swim, eat and drink. She said that she may not probably sing in a choir but she can certainly talk for longer periods of time. She said the every day is a new challenge for her as she is trying very hard to use her vocal cords and train her muscles to swallow and act normally.
This operation is a result of pioneered tissue engineering. Professor Martin Birchall from University College London said that the voice box is the most complicated neuromuscular organ in human body. The patient who has been transplanted with an organ needs to take drugs in order to suppress the immune system for the remaining part of their life.
The reason that Ms Brenda Jensen was suitable for this operation was that she was already taking drugs and also that she had a kidney transplant four years ago. Though the transplant might be life changing but it is certainly not life saving. But something is better than nothing!
