BSN
Teresa’s journey with dysphagia began in 2016 when a white spot under her tongue grew rapidly into stage 4 cancer. She received experimental chemotherapy, surgery and radiation through the University of WA in Seattle and then Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (now Fred Hutch) and has remained cancer free.
She underwent a tongue revision with hopes of improving her speech, but the post-radiated tissue did not heal well. After over a year of antibiotics due to ongoing infection and osteoradionecrosis underwent hyperbaric treatment and a final 12-hour surgery in 2020 to rebuild the floor of her mouth and her neck. Teresa was tube dependent on and off post-operatively and is currently on an IDDSI level 1-3 diet.
Teresa is deeply grateful to Jan Pryor, Neal Futran, MD and the entire team who encouraged her during the darkest of times. Jan also worked closely alongside the Prosthodontist team at UW to custom build an obturator (oral device) that has considerably improved her speech.
Teresa holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Troy State University in Alabama. She has not been able to return to work in her last career role in Medical Sales but has become an advocate for those like herself who live with dysphagia. She is very intentional about avoiding isolation and works to maintain the social culture that revolves around eating. She sees dysphagia from a holistic perspective and is currently working on publishing her personal story, titled “Beautifully Blended” where she shares favorite blended recipes and many tips and tools that have helped her navigate and thrive despite this profoundly life altering diagnosis.