In Focus: New Health Care Provisions Video

In Focus: New Health Care Provisions Video Transcript

>> Couric: In medical news tonight, a remarkable advance in transplant surgery. Surgeons gave a california woman the one thing she wanted most-- her own natural voice. Bill whitaker reports on this complex and groundbreaking operation.

>> Reporter: Brenda jensen came to speak today, the press and medical world waiting to hear her every word because she's a pioneer, the first person expected to fully recover from a voice box transplant, to swallow breathe, and talk normally. She lost her voice 12 years ago to complications from a previous surgery. She was only able to breathe through a tube in her neck and like some 32,000 americans, only able to speak with a handheld electronic voice box, a device she called frustrating and humiliating.

>> You can't always look at me. They think I'm a robot.

>> Reporter: Last october, a team of doctors at the university of california davis did what once science fiction-- extracted a larynx, from a donor an accident fatality and transplanted it inigencey, a complex 18-hour operation involving the larynx, thyroid, trachea, arteries and veins and nerves.

>> It was her only option if she wanted to be able to speak and breathe again out of her mouth and nose.

>> Reporter: 13 days later for the first time in 12 years... she spoke.

>> I want to go home.

>> Reporter: Raspy but in her voice. ( Applause ) and today still breathing through the tube in her neck, her words were heard around the world.

>> It's just been amazing, simply amazing.

>> Reporter: You found your voice.

>> The doctors found my voice. They were the miracle workers.

>> Reporter: Doctors expect to remove the breathing tube soon so brenda jensen can go on with her life and into medical history.

>> It's been an incredible journey. It's been a lot of work but it gets better every day.

>> Reporter: Bill whitaker, cbs news, davis, california.

>> Couric: Very exciting.