Glenn Deir, a former journalist residing in St. John’s, shared his experience of being heavily reliant on six bottles of Boost, a nutritional drink, daily for five months, post his throat surgery in July. The surgery was necessitated by cancer affecting his tonsil and tongue tissue. Despite the surgeon’s declaration of his throat being “normalish,” solid foods remained out of bounds, leading to a significant weight loss.
Repeated swallow tests, monitored by speech language pathologists, indicated his inability to safely ingest solid foods due to impaired throat reflexes. Despite setbacks, his healthcare team at St. Clare’s Hospital persisted, planning for radiation treatment and chemotherapy, which resulted in the postponement of a moose hunting trip due to his fragile health condition.
Under the rigorous radiation treatment regimen, Glenn entertained thoughts of sharing his potential moose harvest with his radiation oncologist, Dr. Brent Tompkins, who vouched for his unwell state in a letter justifying his hunting trip cancellation. The treatment journey was marked by challenges, including a water-related incident during chemotherapy. However, Glenn’s dedication to prescribed exercises and therapies eventually led to significant progress, enabling him to reintroduce solid foods like bananas and mac and cheese into his diet.
As his swallowing ability improved, Glenn’s culinary options expanded, albeit with the lasting impact of reduced saliva production. Despite occasional coughing episodes, he navigated meals with diligence, striving to finish each bite. With a newfound appreciation for the simple act of eating, Glenn looks forward to savoring his meals, albeit with patience and determination, as he continues on his path to recovery.