Kimberly Williams-Paisley is speaking out after spending three hours in intensive treatment for a rare voice disorder.
After discovering a life-changing diagnosis that would ultimately leave her unable to speak for two years, Williams-Paisley reached out to top doctors to help her regain her voice.
During a January 2023 visit to the Vanderbilt Voice Center in Nashville, Tennessee, where medical professionals treated celebrities such as Johnny Cash and Wynonna Judd, they suffered from tonic vocalization due to partial paralysis of their left vocal cords. Diagnosed with a disability.
Kimberly Williams-Paisley says she felt trapped in her own body when she couldn't speak for two years
Kimberly Williams-Paisley, the wife of country singer Brad Paisley, has told how she was kept awake during a three-hour throat surgery after doctors diagnosed her with myotonic dysphonia. (Kimberly Williams Paisley/Instagram; Getty)
According to , myotonic dysphonia is a change in the sound or feel of the voice due to excessive muscle tension in and around the voice box. johns hopkins medicine.
Doctors inserted an endoscope through Williams-Paisley's nose and down her throat to examine her vocal cords. However, the medical team said, “His neck muscles were so stiff that the umbilical cord was barely visible.” To People Magazine In an exclusive interview.
“When we first saw her, it was difficult to know what was happening to the vocal cords themselves,” said Dr. Gaylyn Garrett, executive medical director of the Voice Center.
“The Farmer Wants a Wife” host Kimberly Williams-Paisley said she was “fully symptomatic” and detailed the medical procedure. (Taylor Hill)
Before proceeding with the throat surgery, doctors injected hyaluronic acid filler into her left umbilical cord to see if increasing the amount would help her speak.
The medical team then agreed that she needed a three-hour laryngoplasty, a surgery to “move the weak left vocal cord closer to the right.”
“We wanted to adjust the cord as much as possible,” said Dr. Garrett, who performed the surgery with the medical team.
Kimberly Williams-Paisley underwent surgery after 'losing her voice' two years ago but 'never got it back'
“We had her wake up to hear how her voice changes by manipulating the position of her vocal cords. We're trying to restore her natural voice.”
Ms Williams-Paisley described the procedure as “strange” because she was fully awake when doctors opened her throat.
Kimberly Williams-Paisley described the procedure as “strange” because she was fully awake when doctors opened her throat. (Michael Buckner/Variety, via Getty Images)
“They put a plastic sheet over it so you couldn't see anything but the throat through the screen that was put up. It looked like another mouth, a big hole in it.”
Williams-Paisley remained energized during the surgery, saying that being present during the surgery was “very symbolic. I feel like I woke up to myself. I was completely in the moment to cross this finish line.” I had to be present and I was really ready.”
According to People magazine, “During the surgery, the team placed a silicone rubber implant next to her left vocal cord to hold it in place and then instructed her to speak. They removed it and hand-carved the I replaced it, had her try it again, and when her voice returned to her natural voice, I knew the implant fit perfectly. Implants are permanent and should last a lifetime. She can now speak loudly again. It's been almost two years. ”
“I couldn't believe it was true,” Williams-Paisley said. “It felt so good.”
Meanwhile, before the throat surgery, doctors couldn't actually see her vocal cords, so they couldn't determine her medical problem. Dr. Garrett described Williams-Paisley's muscle tension as “like a purse string being wrapped around the tissue directly above the vocal cords, tightening it up.”
For a year, the “According to Jim” actress tried treatment for her diagnosis, but her voice never returned.
For a year, the “According to Jim” actress tried treatment for her diagnosis, but her voice never returned. (John Shearer/Wire Images/Getty Images)
She practiced both traditional and unconventional solutions, including “antidepressants, Invisalign braces, a vegan diet, hypnosis, psychics, and even an astrologer.”
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“You hope that treatment will resolve the problem, but sometimes it can uncover underlying issues that weren't initially obvious. That's exactly what happened in Kimberly's case,” the doctor continued. Ta.
Vanderbilt speech therapist Jennifer Mukkala added that Williams-Paisley's muscles were tense to compensate for her vocal cords.
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“Her left vocal cord was weak, so she had to use a lot of force to try and get it to stick together…she essentially had a leaky valve.”
Once the medical procedure was completed, the “Father of the Bride” actress shared the scar on her neck from the throat surgery on social media. She wore a scarf to protect her scar from the sun.
“I'm not self-conscious about it. I'm proud of it. It's part of my story,” she said.
The 53-year-old actress, who is married to country star Brad Paisley, said her husband and children were her biggest support system. (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
The 53-year-old actress, who is married to country star Brad Paisley, said her husband and children were her biggest support system.
During Williams-Paisley's turbulent recovery, only whispers could be heard in her ears.
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She admitted that her husband tried to be supportive but wasn't always cooperative.
“I remember saying, 'Let me hear your project.' 'Let's learn the strength to get through it.' I thought maybe she just needed a throat clearing,” he told People. “It was very stupid and naive.”
The actress has two sons, William and Jasper, with Brad Paisley, whom she married in 2003. (Roy Rochlin/Film Magic)
The country singer gave his wife a bright pink megaphone that she can use to call the boys.
“That was one of the kindest things Brad did for me. It was really funny and so necessary,” she added. “I started using it right away. It's really good at making people laugh.”
The actress has two sons, William and Jasper, with Brad, whom she married in 2003.
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Williams-Paisley is recovering from a strained voice but will host the third season of the Fox reality show. “The farmer wants a wife” It is scheduled to be broadcast for the first time on March 20th.
