A musician who lost and regained the ability to sing after his face had to be rebuilt following a cancer diagnosis has released an album to thank the Guy’s Hospital staff who saved his life.
Doctors found a rare tumour called a chondrosarcoma on Lee Michael Walton’s face and carried out several complex operations to remove it fifteen years ago.
The surgery left Lee, now 47, unable to speak at first but he underwent a lot of speech therapy that helped him find his voice again.
Now Streatham resident Lee has released a new album, with some of the proceeds to go to the Guy’s doctors whom he credits with saving his life.
The album notes for the new release, called The Beginning is Here, single out consultant head and neck surgeon Ricard Simo and consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon Paul Roblin for particular praise.
“To the NHS Staff at Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospitals in London. I cannot adequately express my gratitude,” Welshman Lee says in the notes.
“Special thanks to Ricard Simo and Paul Roblin, who were there overseeing everything for 11 years. You made me feel safe in your hands and your compassionate and caring nature was deeply appreciated, as is the phenomenal expertise of yourselves and your whole team. I would not be alive to make this album, were it not for you.”
The surgeons had to remove more than half of Lee’s upper palate bone, gums and teeth to take out the tumour – in a 21-hour operation.
Then they added in part of his fibula – a shin bone – alongside the fat and skin from the same area. Months later surgeons put in dental implants.
“The whole area of my face was rebuilt using bone and veins from my lower left leg. Afterwards, I couldn’t move my mouth, I couldn’t speak as I had a tracheostomy.
“I was just starting to establish myself as a singer and musician, and this diagnosis then surgery was an enormous blow.
“I was determined I was going to sing again, but there were times I was in tremendous pain, physically and emotionally. The surgeries changed how I looked, and I wondered if I would ever look normal again.
“Now, the reconstruction is hardly noticeable – it’s amazing.”
Lee worked with several speech therapists to begin to talk again, but it was years before he began to sing, with encouragement from his friend Bonnie Tyler. She recommended her voice coach James Windsor.
Lee added: “I told James – I bet it’s the first time you’ve worked with someone’s leg!”
“I decided to write an album about my experiences to explain some of what has happened to me. It’s a celebration of relationships and the potential to create positive change.
“I wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for this extraordinary team of people.”
Paul Roblin and Ricard Simo said: “Our congratulations to Lee on his album release. It is an amazing achievement after this major surgery, and one with such a very long and difficult road to recovery. We hope his album is a great success.”
Lee’s album is available on Amazon and HMV.