Best holiday gift ever!
No, I'm not going to try to sell you anything here :-) (Though I won't discourage you from any last minute CD purchases etc...). The gift I am referring to is one that I received. On my last visit to the doctor at UCSF I got the news that the hematoma/lesion on my left vocal cord is almost entirely gone! This means that the work that I have done with my vocal therapist, combined with some extended vocal rest, has paid off, and surgery will not be needed. I have one more doctor's visit in early January, and then I should be able to gradually get back to touring and teaching again in 2019.
Thanks so much to Dr. Matthew Zavod and Dr. Clark Rosen, and my speech pathologists Scott Jackson, and Sarah Schneider, and thanks to all the wonderful friends and fans who sent so much love and support. Since I was not really able to perform this Fall, I am also very appreciative of the many folks who have kept me busy with studio work, sustaining me (and my family) during this tricky time.
There will be some changes made - and I will be working on more mindful use of my voice in the future, and learning techniques to avoid injuring my voice again. But it is such a relief to know that I can continue to do the work that I love! Planning some great stuff for 2019 (not least of which will be the delayed release of "Cerulean Sky" which is in the final stages of being mixed!) and teaching at some wonderful camps. To quote one of my own songs - "I'm grateful for this day!" Happy holidays to all my friends near and far :-)