AllBreathingLaryngectomyVoice ProsthesisDaily LivingSpeakingHMECareProductTracheostomyCategories:AllBreathingLaryngectomyVoice ProsthesisDaily LivingSpeakingHMECareProductTracheostomyHMEStay protected with Freevent XtraCare during flu seasonStay protected with Freevent XtraCare during flu season. During the colder months, we often spend more time inside – both at home and away and are more exposed to viruses and germsHMEUser Testimonial – Meet TomMia and Stefan live in the south of the Netherlands with their son Tom, a tough boy just under a year and a half old, a cat and a few chickens. This sounds like a typical family. But when Tom was 8 months old, he was tracheostomized because of an overgrowth syndrome.HMEDo you need extra protection from pollen?Do you need extra protection from pollen? The pollen season typically begins in early spring and can last until autumn, during this time we often spend more time outside and are more exposed to pollen.TracheostomyMeet Dorenda In 2006, Dorenda underwent surgery for thyroid cancer. Read her story.TracheostomyWhat is a Tracheostomy?A tracheotomy is a procedure which consists of creating an opening in the neck for direct access to the windpipe (trachea). The opening is called a tracheostomy or sometimes a tracheostoma.BreathingFreevent DualCare combines a speaking valve with the benefits of an HMESpeech is a very important way of communicating. To speak with a tracheostomy, you will need to redirect the air you breathe out to go up through your vocal cords. Freevent DualCare is a speaking valve which enables hands-free speech.HMEThe function of your noseYour nose does more than just smell – it heats, humidifies, and filters the air you breathe. In this way, you can be sure the air is at the right body temperature and contains enough moisture when it reaches your lungs for them to function properly. TracheostomyLife with a tracheostomyMrs. Edeltraud Stegemann is a 75-year-old from Bad Vilbel in Germany. She has been tracheotomized twice, survived a cardiac arrest and today leads a full life with a tracheostomy. We were privileged to sit down and interview Mrs. Stegemann to gain some insight into her extraordinary experience.