Glenn Deir, a retired journalist residing in St. John’s, shares his experience as a six-pack-a-day consumer, not of beer but of Boost, a meal replacement drink, for five months. Following throat surgery in mid-July to remove cancerous tissues from his throat, Deir relied on Boost and pureed food for sustenance. Despite losing 15 pounds and facing challenges passing swallow tests due to throat muscle issues, Deir persevered through radiation treatment and chemotherapy, forced to cancel a planned moose hunting trip. His doctor’s note to the wildlife department emphasized his unwell state and need for extended recovery.
During radiation treatment, Deir entertained thoughts of gifting moose meat to his doctor upon successful hunting. Despite setbacks like swallowing water incorrectly during chemotherapy, Deir diligently performed prescribed exercises and eventually regained enough swallowing function to undergo intensive swallow therapy. This therapy enabled him to progress from consuming pureed foods to solid fare like bananas, marking a significant culinary milestone after months of liquid diets. Though saliva reduction from radiation poses a persistent challenge, Deir continues to improve his swallowing abilities with the support of speech language pathologists.