Readers’ Responses
Our Footprints in the Sand
By Len A. Hynds
Together we walked, along the shore,
Our footprints, side by side.
Damp depressions, numbered four,
Aged quickly with the tide.
Throughout our days, it had been just so,
Holding hands, as we went through life.
By my side, in highs and lows,
My ever-loving wife.
The children came, and then they went,
Each one with love and pride,
But relentless waves, at us they were spent.
All signs gone with the tide.
My love now walks, oh quite alone,
Single footprints in the sand.
Sadly thinking she’s on her own,
But still I hold her hand.
Ed: Thank you Len – we’re sure readers will enjoy your
work, as always. Of course we’re always happy to receive
material for publication – and we invite you all to get in
touch with your thoughts, stories, art and poems.
More benefits of a hot bath or shower
I visited my local Speech Therapy department and
picked up your leaflet. I became a Lary 11 years
ago in 1998 and although your factsheet is helpful
and correct, there are other ways of dealing with
thick or difficult to expel mucus. Try a hot bath
or shower and try to make as much steam as
possible. Add a few drops of oil of cloves in a bowl
of hot water, with a towel over your head and the
bowl. Oil of cloves along with petrol and white
spirit are amongst the things that I can still smell,
taste, detect.
All the best.
Ed: Thank you all for your fine responses to
readers’ enquiries about the best tissues and pen
torches. Here’s a selection of them...
I was most interested to read the letter from
Geoffrey N Read in issue 4 of The Voice in which he
mentions how the pen torch that you kindly gave
him needs daily battery changes.
I had similar problems, but additionally found that
my torches didn’t stand up well to tough usage and
regularly needed replacing. I was helped on this
one by my Speech Therapist who recommended
the high strength aircraft aluminium alloy Mini
Magline pen torch available from Argos. It’s 15cm
long, takes 2 x AA batteries wich I recharge (and
the charge lasts for up to a week). It has a high
intensity beam with spot or flood focus and comes
with a lifetime guarantee.
I am now in my sixth year with the same torch!
I hope that this information may prove useful to
fellow laryngectomees.
Brian Fell
Geoffrey writes that he is getting through
batteries in an ordinary pen torch very quickly.
I had the same problem, until I found a better
option than the filament lamp types.
This torch produces a blue light, which is OK
when you get used to it. It is very bright, being
recommended for use in daylight! I have found
it to be better than any other torch I have tried,
especially as the batteries last much longer –
about four to five weeks with me – and I use the
pump about 8-10 times a day. The batteries should
be fitted with the + terminal towards the screw cap
which acts as the switch. ?
Bob Carey
Summer 2010 | THE VOICE
17