Your Contributions
STAR LETTER
On track for trach-chat
I was very interested to read your recent article
about tracheostomies, as I too had been in the
same situation and wanted to discuss day-to-day
issues with others in the same situation.
When I had my tracheostomy in July 2008 I felt
very isolated. I have a very good medical team
and an extremely supportive family, but it wasn’t
until I met another tracheostomee at clinic that I
realised what I needed was someone who actually
knew what I was feeling because they were feeling
the same. We discussed the lack of support and
information out there and this prompted me (with
a lot of help from my lovely hubby!) to set up a
web forum called www.backontrach.freeforums.
org.
At the moment there are only three of us on the
forum but we would love for others to join us. We
are also in the process of setting up a website
and would really appreciate some ideas of what
other tracheostomees think should be on there.
So, anyone out there who has been affected by
a tracheostomy either personally, or through
someone close, please join us and let us know
what you think.
Joanne Roche
Ed: We’ve had a look around Joanne’s excellent forum
– and there’s just one problem: not enough people are
making use of it! There’s already some great advice and
thoughtful material there, so do please take a look and
make a contribution. If you don’t have the internet you
can write to Joanna Roche at:
Joanne Roche
28 St Stephen Road
Bridlington
East Yorkshire
YO16 4DP
14 THE VOICE | Summer 2010
Taking the initiative
I read your article in issue 4 highlighting Sydney
Norgate’s exper