Val Kilmer dreamed of getting experimental throat transplant to replace his voice box before his death
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'Top Gun' star Val Kilmer dreamed of using a miracle throat transplant to replace his voice box and feeding tube before his death at 65, a new report by Radar Online reveals.
Kilmer made his final big screen appearance in 2022 in 'Top Gun: Maverick', a sequel to the 1986 movie 'Top Gun', and shared an emotional moment with his co-star Tom Cruise, per the outlet.
Val Kilmer wanted a throat transplant to replace his voice box and feeding tube
Val Kilmer was looking to undergo an experimental larynx transplant to fix his cancer-ravaged voice before his death.
He got to know that a clinic in Minnesota selected two patients per year to undergo the surgery.
According to Radar Online, a source had said, "Val is determined to be one of the few selected. He’s doing everything in his power to make himself known to the staff there and trying to convince everyone he would be the perfect choice."
The insider added, "After all, he’s a famous actor, and it would be great publicity for the hospital."
Moreover, a New York internist, Dr Stuart Fischer, who did not treat Val, also suggested that the actor is a good candidate to undergo the surgery, per the outlet.
"He’s played a hero in the movies, so he certainly has courage, and he’s still young enough. He could theoretically get his voice back because the vocal cords are centrally located in the larynx," Dr Fischer had said.
Back then, Kilmer thought he could be one of the lucky patients and could regain his voice to make a Hollywood comeback.
Following his diagnosis, the 'Batman Forever' actor leaned on prayer instead of medicine to treat cancer before he underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatments, according to Radar Online.
In 2017, he opened up about his battle with cancer and how it completely changed his life and career.
He mentioned in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that his cancer battle took "its toll" on him, and after undergoing a procedure, his voice became raspy, and he was left short of breath, according to Radar Online.
Val Kilmer had to choose between breathing and eating while battling throat cancer
Val Kilmer talked about the time he had to decide between breathing and eating while battling throat cancer in his 2021 biographical documentary 'Val', which was released on Amazon Prime Video, according to The Mirror.
Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer back in 2014, and after chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, he was declared free from the disease in 2021.
However, a tracheostomy that he had to undergo during the treatment took a toll on his health and left his vocal cords permanently damaged, per the outlet.
Kilmer explained his reason for agreeing to the creation of an in-depth documentary on his life.
"Now that it's more difficult to speak, I want to tell my story more than ever. I obviously am sounding much worse than I feel. I can't speak without plugging this hole (in his throat, created during the tracheostomy),” Kilmer said in his changed voice.
The tracheostomy also left Kilmer needing to be fed through a tube, about which he said, "You have to make the choice to breathe or to eat. It's an obstacle that is very present with whoever sees me."
