Kathy Griffin Undergoes Surgery To Fix 'Paralyzed' Vocal Cord After Surviving Lung Cancer
By Fiyin Olowokandi on June 8, 2023 at 9:00 PM EDT
Kathy Griffin is on the road to recovery to regain her voice after a challenging journey!
The comedian is well-known for her witty quips and an outgoing personality as vibrant as her signature ginger-haired curls. After announcing her lung cancer diagnosis in 2021, the TV personality has steadily struggled to maintain a healthy status.
The 62-year-old regularly updates fans about her well-being, recently sharing a graphic before and after compilation of her vocal cord surgery on social media.
Kathy Griffin Drops Behind-the-Scenes Footage Of Vocal Surgery Ahead Of Las Vegas Show
In her latest TikTok post, the stand-up personality gave fans a candid look at her recent medical operation to restore her damaged voice. The entertainer's vocal cords took a nasty beating during her battle with lung cancer.
Ever the drama queen, the media personality's video began with a shot of the "Search Party" star at a Polo Lounge restaurant. Like a true actress, the media personality took her seat with flair, flipping off her impressive red coat and sunglasses before giving the camera an intense stare.
The words "Trigger Warning: medical/graphic" and "You're about to see some sh*t…" flashed across the screen, imploring the fainthearted to leave before the next scene. The clip continued with a shot of the "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List" star at the hospital.
The scene gave fans a better view of the 62-year-old's outfit: a striking red coat designed with black feather details, a red wrap top over a black camisole, and dark blue jeans. Griffin completed the look with white socks and cover-up shoes, accessorizing with a black handbag.
According to the GLAAD Media Award winner, she was at the "pre-op appointment" before her scheduled surgery the following morning. The Oak Park native noted she was in good hands, describing her doctor as a "kick-ass female voice surgeon."
The video showed her doctor performing some tests by sticking a camera through the TV personality's nose to view her vocal cords. Explaining the footage seen on the hospital's monitor with overlay texts, the "For Your Consideration" star noted that her left cord was paralyzed.
"Yes, I know my vocal cords look like a mini vagina. Deal with it," the ginger-haired beauty joked before the clip switched to the post-op scene. Griffin was lying on a hospital bed, dressed in the organization's signature blue gown.
The surgery appeared successful as the word "YES" was inked on the media personality's neck. Smiling brightly, the "A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin" author excitedly announced her return to the stage, saying:
"Hi, you guys. So I just had my latest surgery on my left vocal cord because I want to be in good shape for my big Vegas show on June 17, and this is just part of my recovery post-lung cancer surgery. I'm cancer free."
The video ended with a picture of the comedian posing next to her surgeon, Dr. Barbu, who she thanked for the operation. "So anyway, I'm a little scratchy today, but I'll be in good shape," the cancer survivor concluded.
"I appreciate you guys following along on my journey to get my voice back after #lungcancer! Big shout out to Dr.Barbu," Griffin captioned the post, adding various hashtags, including "#wellnessjourney," "#cancer," and "#survivor."
The LGBTQ Activist Spent The Easter Holiday Getting An MRI At The Hospital
Before announcing her vocal cord surgery, the Oak Park native caused a stir on social media after revealing she had spent her Easter break at the hospital. In April, the 62-year-old updated her Instagram page with a picture of herself wrapped in a white blanket.
The stand-up personality was seated outside the MRI room, a small distance from the door labeled with various warnings and cautionary notes. Griffin's face was covered with a black nose mask while only the white tip of her sneakers could be seen underneath the massive blanket.
"Happy Easter???" the TV personality sarcastically wished her followers, "Getting an MRI." Although the "Suddenly Susan" star did not share additional information about her trip to the hospital, the post sent her fans into a worried frenzy.
Several social media users flooded the comment section with thousands of worried messages, praying for the entertainer's well-being. The list included celebrities like TV host Ross Mathews, actress Rosanna Arquette, and producer Michael Hitchcock.
