First post-surgery voice lesson

Having surgery is scary enough - but being a professional vocalist and VO artist adds an extra layer of terror because of the anesthesia. I made sure to tell my anesthesiologist beforehand…but I was under for 16 hours. When I woke up, my body was completely different - especially with regard to support bc I found out that the endometriosis had spread to my diaphragm. Even so - when big musical auditions came in I prepared like I always had. Call it denial…fear. I did my best on the self tapes but it wasn’t the same. Suddenly support felt alien bc I was missing the usual weight I felt in my pelvic organs when I sang bc the majority of those organs were now gone. I was scared my voice would never return in its former capacity. I contacted my dear friend @douglaspeck for a vocal coaching and was given a safe space to explore my new body, feel all of the feelings, cry when I needed to, do vocal strengthening exercises and work on a song that if I’m honest probably hits waaay too close right now. And like an expert technician, Doug knew exactly the right adjustments to give me. There’s something beautiful about having life-changing surgery though - you just stop giving AF about things that don’t matter. Before, I never would’ve posted a video that showed my surgical scars and my armpit hyperpigmentation. I would’ve covered all that stuff up w dermablend like I always did - along w some light makeup - in an attempt to present casual perfection. But perfection isn’t real. Life is messy and short. Celebrate your wins - unfiltered. And that’s what I’m doing from here on out. #endometriosis #broadway #vocalist #hysterectomy #healing