*Singing
When tenor David Lomeli sings people stop
and listen in odd silence
*Singing
David has graced stages all over the world
reaching notes only the best of the best can achieve
rave reviews. Unstoppable. I was fearless
I never felt afraid or nervous about it
I just really love it.
But then in an occasional performance his pitch
started become just a tiny bit flat and issue that could end an
opera career an issue that David feared was getting worse.
It was really hard.
I was constantly flat
so I made a deal with the Opera Company to withdraw myself for the first time ever
in my life
but David was determined to overcome this. His search for answers led him to
Mayo Clinic.
There he met singer and voice
expert Dr. Diana Orbelo. He is the consummate professional and has
one of the most amazing tenor voices I've ever,
ever heard.
Dr. Orbelo led the multi-specialty group that cared for
David
together they figured out that David's pitch problem was the result of medical
issues.
Reflux diagnosed by Dr. David Katzka
and a slight middle range hearing deficiency
it was technical it was hearing it was the reflux
and everything had to be unlayered. So do you want to look at the video?
Yeah. Let's see it. Thorough examinations by Dr. Orbelo and laryngologist
Dr. Dale Ekbom
revealed David's vocal cords were stressed
but not damaged. Here things are a little bit full
and puffy but you can see there's a little bit of mucus down here
David did not need vocal cord surgery but he did need an operation to stop the
reflux that
everyday was bathing his vocal cords in stomach acid.
It's Magnetic sphincter augmentation device. Surgeon Dr. C. Daniel Smith says
standard surgery to stop reflux involves small incisions in the abdomen
to access the esophagus. The surgeon then mobilizes and wraps part of the stomach
around the esophagus
to tighten the sphincter muscle and prevent stomach acid from flowing back
into the esophagus.
The procedure David had is less invasive.
Through small incisions the surgeon doesn't need to dissect the stomach
but instead wraps a bracelet magnetic beads around the
end of the esophagus. This augments the valve
and decreases reflux. I'm quite happy that we were able to help him
control his acid reflux, protect his vocal cords and
his voice so that he could get on with his career. My voice is through a full bloom again
*Singing
Lessons in vocal technique allowed David to learn to hear his own
voice in new ways.
It helped him compensate for his very small hearing deficiency.
And I saw the things that I went through. In addition to David's
physical health the experts at Mayo also paid attention to his spirit.
What I helped him cultivate was self-compassion
self-acceptance and self-forgiveness. Dr. Amit Sood
taught David mindful meditation to keep him centered throughout the process
and to reduce stress.
David's return to
excellence took dedication and hard work. Right now I'm singing the best I've ever sung.
*Singing
A triumph David says he could not have achieved without Dr. Diana Orbelo.
She opened her heart and her ability and
everything for me. And the entire team at Mayo Clinic
who David says gave him exactly the care he needed.
Always treated me like I was more than a voice.
*Singing
More than a voice, a person with a magnificent gift
that he shares with audiences across the globe.
*Singing