06/01/2022
SAVE NANA'S VOICE!
NANA HEDIN, A HIDDEN QUEEN
NaNa Hedin is a legendary singer.
If you’re into music from the 90's, you’ve definitely heard her before, possibly without knowing her name.
She is the incredibly powerful voice behind
E-Type’s biggest hits since 1993.
Remember Dr. Albans hit "Look Who's Talking"?
She’s done backup vocals for Britney Spears, Celine Dion, Gary Barlow, Ace of Base, and numerous other artists, together with world famous producers such as Denniz Pop, Max Martin (Polar Music Award 2016) & Kristian Lundin for over a decade.
A Highlight Reel
https://youtu.be/Dg-wXnq4ZuM
TONGUE CANCER
Back in 2009 - after over a year of misdiagnosis - NaNa was diagnosed with stage 4 tongue cancer, which threatened her life.
Given her career, she had to decline surgery, and went through grueling radiation and chemotherapy. Happily, she survived with her vocal cords intact!
JAWBONE DEATH
.. but then several years later, the same day she officially reached remission status,
NaNa was dealt another blow - a diagnosis
of osteoradionecrosis. This severe jawbone death was the result of the radiation therapy, the worst case her Swedish surgeons had ever seen.
Now she has to go with the only treatment available for her disintegrating bones - removing her entire lower jaw.
As it stands, her jaw bone is currently disintegrating into liquid, is broken in several places, the right side of the bone has a gap in it, so the outer part of her jaw isn’t connected to her head anymore.
NaNa no longer has any teeth in the lower jaw, and her upper teeth are in extremely poor condition. Her tongue is completely immobile due to the scarring from the radiotherapy, and she hasn't been able to chew or move her tongue for 12 years.
IN URGENT NEED OF SURGERY
NaNa’s only local options for surgery involve cutting major nerves in her face, ending her ability to smile or have any sensation in her lower face and lips.
The surgeons said that - with their plan - she would never have teeth, sensation, or the ability to smile. The top Maxillofacial surgeon told NaNa "You will never sing again."
SEARCHING FOR HELP
After an absolutely horrifying few years of medical drama that would make anyone’s hair stand on end, she found that a handful of surgeons around the world could help her. Unfortunately, none were located anywhere near Sweden, where she lives.
THE GIFT OF SURGERY
A highly experienced surgeon in India - and an accompanying hospital - are willing to cover the hospital related costs for NaNa - as charity - to receive a much better surgery.
The surgeon that is overseeing this is a Maxillofacial specialist in the type of severe deterioration that NaNa is experiencing, is someone she trusts, and has received one of the most prestigious awards in dentistry for research in this very area.
The surgical team at Sri Shankara Cancer Hospital and Research Center will do their best to preserve the nerves in her face, and the soft tissue around her tongue. The mandible will be rebuilt using her fibula bone, from her lower leg, along with 3D printed parts.
With this team, she may even have a chance to receive dental implants - as possibility completely written off by surgeons local to her.
As India has the highest number of oral cancer patients worldwide, the doctors there have a lot of experience with these issues, and have been pioneering treatments.
In NaNa's hospital in Sweden, they perform this type of surgery once per year, max.
ASSOCIATED COSTS
NaNa has to come up with the money for: Travel, 2 months of hospital accommodation and therapy, as well as all of the other associated costs for this surgery, tooth implants for her entire mouth and a second minor surgery to free her tongue.
Over a decade of dealing with cancer and related medical issues has left NaNa in
dire straits, financially, and she is currently fundraising to save her mouth, her voice and prevent further damage, enabling her to have a chance of a bright future.
NaNa says:
"My voice is a gift from heaven, much more than a career, it's a vocation and who I am.
It's my entire life."
Today, we are hoping to raise enough money to get NaNa to India to receive the care that she so urgently needs, and to get her on the path to a safe, healthy, and HAPPY recovery.
Please share this fundraiser, and consider contributing to the collection for NaNa Hedin’s surgeries. Every little bit helps!
This Fundraiser is held for NaNa Hedin with her concent by The MultiAnnoying Society for Female Oral Cancer & Osteoradionecrosis Awareness, a non-profit Swedish organization.
