For three decades, Cookie Huddleston struggled with every breath. Simple tasks like climbing stairs or walking a few blocks left her gasping for air. She was repeatedly misdiagnosed for years, with doctors prescribing inhalers that never worked.
“I was being treated for asthma; I had allergy tests and all kinds of scopes,” Huddleston said. “They even told me it was allergies, but they couldn’t tell me what I was allergic to.”
Cookie Huddleston
The 75-year-old Wesley Chapel resident lived with constant fear. “I thought I was going to die in my sleep because I couldn’t breathe,” she said.
Eight years ago, a specialist finally identified the true cause of Huddleston’s breathing difficulties: a rare condition called bilateral vocal cord paralysis. However, even with this diagnosis, she was not presented with any viable treatment options until she was referred to Yassmeen Abdel-Aty, MD, an assistant professor of laryngology at the USF Health Voice Center in the Morsani College of Medicine’s Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.
Dr. Abdel-Aty discovered that Huddleston’s condition originated from a thyroidectomy performed on her approximately 30 years earlier for thyroid cancer. The surgery had damaged the nerves to both vocal cords, leaving them paralyzed in what doctors call the “midline position” — meaning the vocal cords were stuck nearly closed.
Dr. Yassmeen Abdel-Aty
“When we breathe, our vocal cords open. When we talk or swallow, our vocal cords close,” Dr. Abdel-Aty explained. “Her vocal cords couldn’t move from the midline position, which gave her a very small sliver of airway to breathe out of.”
After reviewing Huddleston’s case, Dr. Abdel-Aty recommended a procedure called endoscopic suture lateralization — a minimally invasive technique that pulls one vocal cord outward with a stitch to create more breathing space.
The surgery was a resounding success, leading to immediate improvements in Huddleston’s breathing without any negative impact on her voice. She now enjoys performing simple activities that once seemed impossible.
“I feel 90 percent better. I wish someone had told me this 20 years ago. It’s life changing,” Huddleston said. “Even being able to cut the yard now — it is small thing, but to me it is a miracle.”
For Dr. Abdel-Aty, who completed specialized training in laryngology following her five-year otolaryngology residency, Huddleston’s story shows how academic medical centers like USF Health provide access to the greatest range of specialists and experts in their field.
“The benefit of going to an academic center like USF Health is that you have all these experts and specialists in one place,” Dr. Abdel-Aty said. “If you have a problem where maybe a general ENT physician does not feel comfortable treating it, you have options to discuss it with someone more specialized.”
For Huddleston, finding a doctor who took the time to listen made all the difference.
“She was very patient and compassionate,” Huddleston said. “I think that’s her passion, which makes her care for her patients and makes it easier for the patient to appreciate what she’s doing. I’m extremely, extremely grateful.”