California teenager sings again after her rare, complex airway surgery: ‘It was life-changing’

Born premature at 25 weeks — 'the exact size of a Barbie doll,' as her mother, Kristen Van Kempen, told Fox News Digital — Overman has always struggled with vocal cord issues. During surgery as an infant to close an opening between her heart and lungs, one of her vocal cords became permanently paralyzed.

Overman’s mother began seeking solutions, but there weren’t many providers who were equipped to handle the unique situation. After trying solutions close to home, Van Kempen was referred to Balakrishnan at Stanford Children’s Health. Overman was seen at the Voice and Swallow Program, part of the hospital's Aerodigestive and Airway Reconstruction Center. After a full evaluation, Overman was diagnosed with a 'moderate voice disorder.

The surgery, which took place in June 2022, was a 'total success,' the doctor said. 'Stanford is such a phenomenal hospital and we felt very confident in their abilities,' said Van Kempen. 'Every step of the way, it was just an amazing experience.' A few days after the surgery, Overman noticed that her voice was stronger — and over time, in working with her speech-language pathologist and voice coach, she has gained even more improvements.

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