In 1957, when I was almost 15, I was in a serious car accident and was struck across the throat by the back of the front seat (no seatbelts in the car). My hyoid bone was fractured, it perforated my windpipe and esophagus and nearly severed my vocal cords. The damage was not readily apparent and fortunately a doctor that I tried to speak to whisked me off to xray and the damage was confirmed. There was nothing that they could do except watch me in case I needed a tracheotomy. It took quite awhile but I recovered. My voice has never been the same, however. I have never met any other person who has survived this kind of injury.View Thread