It took about three weeks for me to become mute(失声). In 2007, I visited a client as a financial adviser and 1 a virus. I had a sore throat. My doctor 2 me it would soon return to normal.
3, it got worse. I could no longer make phone calls and started carrying a little whiteboard to write everything down. I tried to work with people I already knew, who were likely to be more 4with me, but explaining financial details to 5 investors with a marker pen was a big challenge. At home my wife and teenage sons 6 the best they could. Soon I was using a computer that read out phrases typed into it.
My situation 7 when I was offered a tuition-assisted place at Iowa State University. I 8myself by accepting a job in the Student Services office. Forced to 9 with people face to face, I started to have fun with computer voices.
In 2010, I read a news story about a waitress who'd had her voice 10 with the help of a doctor in Cleveland. It had to be worth a 11. Dr. Milstein12 me to do some vocal exercises to stretch the muscles in my neck and to my astonishment I started to make 13. It was the first time I'd heard my voice in three and a half years.
Then I did more exercises, my voice becoming more 14. Milstein asked me to go over to the window and 15 the friends across the street. I was 16 at first that I would damage my voice, but he kept 17 me. Friends at university heard my voice for the first time and even when I was alone, I talked to myself.
I don't regret those years of 18. I spent more time with my boys and had time to 19where I'd gone wrong as a husband and parent. That time 20 my rough edges. I prefer who I am now.
