Late Friday, a clearly elated Dr. Jerome Thompson described the surgery at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital that gave Cooper Kilburn, 2, his voice, the first reconstructed child larynx and airway passage ever recorded.
Thompson started the announcement by pulling out his cellphone and playing for TV cameras a clip – with the sound on high – of Cooper huffing and puffing to blow up a New Year’s Eve party favor.
“That was one of the best days of my life when he was blowing up this little play toy and smiling,” Thompson said.