In June of 2017 I received a third opinion diagnosis of having Spasmodic Dysphonia. A neurological condition that affects the brain and voice. I departed the Broadway show, Come From Away, due to it. At the time I was told by my neurologist, and several prominent doctors, that due to the dystonia I would not regain my singing voice, let alone speak with normalcy again.
It is with great JOY that I write that after three rounds of botox injections to my throat, my last one being November 2017, in March of 2018, on the morning of my Father’s passing, I regained my ability to speak clearly again and to sing.
November 29, 2022 update:
My voice has grown even stronger than before the initial diagnosis five years ago of having spasmodic dysphonia, it brings me tremendous JOY to be singing and acting again. Stronger than before.
I am forever thankful and uplifted by gratitude, love, grace, and the knowledge of how fortunate I am to be alive, healthy, and well in our world today. Thank you to those who have uplifted me with your thoughts and prayers, I am most grateful.
My speaking voice gained in power and confidence year after year, now effortless in stamina, with a newfound dexterity. My singing took some years to gain strength. re-learn placement, and mind to voice coordination.
This past November, working on the new musical, HART ISLAND, our musical director, colleague, and friend, Chris Ranney, shared with me that my singing voice is stronger now than even before I was diagnosed five years ago. Chris and I worked together on Come From Away and have known each other professionally for the past ten years. In Come From Away, he was there when my voice left me-being told by my neurologist that I would never sing or speak clearly again. So to have my friend and colleague witness the repair, growth, and evolution of not only my voice, but for me as an artist and human being in our world, his words mean a lot and deeply appreciated.
A life can turn around.
The work is indeed hard hard hard work, doesn’t stop, but worth it. In whatever way that means for you. For me, being on this path for over the past eight years as a meditator and mindfulness practitioner not only saved my life, but my entire life had to crack open, internally and externally, all of my years of fear living on this earth–I had to acknowledge, fall, stumble, cry, scream, stand, repair, and heal. All of it. I had to unlearn in order to be something I never thought I’d be, whole and internally at peace. Even with the world as it is today. I stand with love. And I AM INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL.
“We are all just walking each other home..”
with compassion and love,
Rodney
For more information on Spasmodic Dysphonia here is the link: National Spasmodic Dysphonia Association.
