Kimberly Williams-Paisley talks about her grueling three-hour treatment for a rare voice disorder.
After Williams-Paisley received her life-changing diagnosis that left her unable to speak for two years, the actress reached out to top doctors to help her regain her voice.
During a visit to Nashville, Tennessee’s Vanderbilt Voice Center in January 2023, where health professionals treated celebrities including Johnny Cash and Wynonna Judd, he was diagnosed with muscular dysphonia, as he was paralyzed on the left side of his voice.
KIMBERLY WILLIAMS-PAISLEY ‘FELT TRAPPED IN MY BODY’ WHEN SHE COULDN’T SPEAK FOR 2 YEARS
Kimberly Williams-Paisley, the wife of country singer Brad Paisley, has shared how she was awake during throat surgery three hours after doctors diagnosed her with muscle tone dysphonia. (Kimberly Williams Paisley/Instagram; Getty)
Muscle tone dysphonia is a change in the sound or sensitivity of your voice due to muscle stiffness in and around the voice box, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Doctors placed a vacuum in Williams-Paisley’s nose and throat to examine her vocal cords. However, the medical team said that “the muscles in his neck were so tight that the cords were not visible,” he explained to People magazine in an exclusive interview.
“When we first saw him, it was difficult to tell what was happening in the words themselves,” said Dr. Gaelyn Garrett, senior medical director of the Voice Center.
“Farmer Wants a Wife” host Kimberly Williams-Paisley detailed her treatment process as she said she was “full on.” (Taylor Hill)
Before doctors continued to operate on her throat, they injected a hyaluronic acid filler into her left vocal cord to see if blocking it would help her speak.
The medical team then agreed that he needed a three-hour laryngoplasty – “a procedure in which the weak left vocal cord moves closer to the right.”
“We wanted to tune the thread in the best possible way,” said Dr. Garrett, who performed the surgery with his medical team.
KIMBERLY WILLIAMS-PAISLEY HAS DRAWN AFTER ‘LOST MY VOICE’ 2 YEARS AGO: ‘NEVER COME BACK’
“We made him awake to hear how the voice changes as we change the position of the voice. We are trying to restore the natural voice.”
Williams-Paisley described the procedure as “weird” as she was awake when doctors opened her throat.
Kimberly Williams-Paisley described the procedure as “weird” as she was awake when doctors opened her throat. (Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images)
“They put a plastic sheet so I can’t see anything but my throat on the screen they put in. It looks like another mouth, like a big hole!”
Williams-Paisley remained in good spirits during the process, as she explained that being there during the surgery was “symbolic. I feel like I was waking up to myself. I had to be fully present to cross this finish line, and I was really ready.”
According to People, “during the procedure, the team took an implant made of silicone rubber and placed it near the left vocal cord to hold it, then asked him to speak. They took it out, adjusted the size by hand-sculpting it. He changed it and tried again when his voice returned to its natural voice , they knew it was a perfect fit, the implant – which is permanent and should last her a lifetime – allowed her to speak out loud for the first time in nearly two years.”
“I couldn’t believe it was true,” Williams-Paisley said. “It felt good.”
Meanwhile, before the throat surgery, the doctors could not determine his health problem as they could not really see his voice. Dr. Garrett described Williams-Paisley muscle tension as, “It’s like you put a purse string around the muscles that sit high above the vocal cords, and it puts pressure.”
For a year, the “According to Jim” actress tried to treat her diagnosis, but she said her voice did not return.
For a year, the “According to Jim” actress tried to treat her diagnosis, but she said her voice did not return. (John Shearer/WireImage/Getty Images)
He has used traditional and unconventional solutions, including “antidepressants, Invisalign braces, a vegan diet, hypnosis, a psychic — even an astrologer.”
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“You hope that treatment will fix the problem, but at some point you will uncover an underlying problem that was not apparent at first, which is exactly what happened to Kimberly,” the doctor continued to explain.
Vanderbilt speech pathologist Jennifer Muckala added that Williams-Paisley’s muscles have been strengthening to compensate for her vocal cords.
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“He had to use a lot of force to try to get his vocal cords together because of the weakness of the left vocal cord … He was a leaky valve.”
When the medical procedure was completed, the “Father of the Bride” actor shared his neck scar from the throat surgery on social media. She protected the scar from the sun by wearing scarves.
“I’m not ashamed of it. I’m proud. It’s part of my story,” he said.
The 53-year-old actress, who is married to country star Brad Paisley, shared that her husband and children have been her biggest support system. (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
The 53-year-old actress, who is married to country star Brad Paisley, shared that her husband and children have been her biggest support system.
As Williams-Paisley went through her tumultuous medical journey, she could only be heard whispering.
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Although her husband tried to support her, she admitted that he was not always helpful.
“I remember saying, ‘Let me hear the project.’ ‘Learn power through it.’ I thought maybe he needed to clear his throat,” he told People. “It was stupid and stupid.”
The actress shares sons William and Jasper with Brad Paisley, whom she married in 2003. (Roy Rochlin/FilmMagic)
The country singer gave his wife a bright pink megaphone that she could use to call the boys.
“It was one of the kindest things Brad did for me – it was really nice and necessary,” she added. “I started using it immediately. You have a knack for keeping me laughing.”
The actress shares sons William and Jasper with Brad, whom she married in 2003.
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While Williams-Paisley recovers her voice, she is set to host the third season of the Fox reality show. “A farmer wants a wife,” which is scheduled to premiere on March 20.