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THIS IS A BIG ONE! Today’s coffee toast Friday goes out to Hal! When I met Hal, he arrived in a wheelchair. He was very weak and barely said a word. He had a suction machine to manage his secretions and had a feeding tube to sustain nutrition. Hal was diagnosed with a very rare disorder and had some additional setbacks in the hospital/rehab that took a significant toll.

This week’s word is highly relevant to one of the main therapies we provide at DSSS: 𝒅𝒆𝒈𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

de·​glu·​ti·​tion

ˌdē-glü-ˈti-shən

1. the act or process of swallowing

Example sentence: “After the patient’s surgery, we will work on strengthening the muscles responsible for deglutition,” said the doctor.

Try implementing this new word into your vocabulary!

Coffee toast graduation!

Celebrating Ira’s remarkable journey to triumph! Ira had a swallow study done back in January that revealed a profoundly impaired swallow. During the test when he swallowed the food/liquid went straight into his lungs instead of down his esophagus. The study was immediately halted and a feeding tube was recommended. He was desperate for another option. He went to Orlando to try to find a specialist but he repor

Today’s coffee toast is a truly an enormous one! As our practice has grown, we’ve been blessed to witness countless miracles, awe-inspiring healings, and patients overcoming incredible adversity. This young man’s journey is one of the most remarkable miracles. After suffering a traumatic brain injury in 2019 during a motocross accident, Dylan’s prospects for survival were slim, let alone achieving the incredible milestones he has today, but God had greater plans! Dylan began working with me around four years post-injury (2023). While some might think the chances of recovery were slim to none, after already being 4 years post injury, this story showcases the power of perseverance and finding someone who believes in limitless potential! Doctors thought he’d never eat or speak ag

Today marks a major milestone for one of our patients, who has successfully had their feeding tube removed!

We shared their inspiring story with you recently, and we’re thrilled to provide this update on their remarkable progress.

“Today’s coffee toast is truly a miracle! A patient who is battling a rare, genetic disease that causes progressive muscle weakness, affecting approximately 2 in every 100,000 people in the United States has defied the odds! The patient came to us with a feeding tube and an inability to swallow their own saliva. They had to suction their own secretions all day and all night long and were only getting fo

Yesterday, I experienced a profound mix of sadness and motivation as a patient I worked with passed away after a courageous fight against cancer.

Despite our brief time together, her impact on me will be lasting. The challenges she faced in swallowing due to radiation only strengthened my commitment to raising awareness about the importance of timely swallowing therapy for those undergoing head or neck cancer treatment.

Her daughter’s poignant words - “If only we had been sent to you sooner” - continue to echo within me, solidifying my determination to educate doctors, nurses, and patients alike. I am compelled to share this vital information with everyone, especially those navigating head or neck cancer, and to express my deepest gratitude to the daughter for her

Today, let’s celebrate a remarkable young woman who has shown incredible resilience in the face of adversity.

We’re back with another inspiring patient testimony to share!

This couple’s courage and determination inspired a remarkable transformation in Patricia Taylor’s life. Despite the debilitating effects of head and neck cancer, including swallowing difficulties and the constant presence of a feeding tube, her and her husband pursued a glimmer of hope.

Word of mouth from another patient, led them all the way from Georgia where they reside, to DSSS. Their investment of time, travel, and finances yielded a life-changing outcome: the removal of the feeding tube, once deemed unlikely.

Mrs. Taylor graciously shares her impressive success story to encour

Yesterday, one of our patients achieved an extraordinary accomplishment.

257 visits but it happened! His ultimate goal was to eat a steak and it happened yesterday! I was filled with emotion when he took his first bite!

A significant milestone has been achieved today with the removal of another feeding tube!