Kyd Dieterich of Funkstown has been selected as the recipient of the Hamilton Relay 2022 Better Hearing and Speech Month Recognition Award for the state of Maryland. Kyd is a Laryngectomee living in Maryland who has become a strong advocate and guide for others facing laryngectomy surgeries as well as those who have had the surgery and are navigating their new way of life.
He is currently the Vice President of the International Association of Laryngectomees and is a member of Support for People with Oral and Head and Neck Cancer, Firefighter Cancer Support Network and The Laryngectomee Club of Montgomery County, MD (LCMC). As a Laryngectomee, Kyd has been a mentor, counselor and advocate for patients undergoing total laryngectomy at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.
In addition to his service to individuals with speech differences, Kyd served in the U.S. Coast Guard, and his career culminated as Chief of the Hagerstown Fire Department. As a member of the Firefighter Cancer Support Network, his mission is to educate firefighters about cancer awareness, prevention and mitigating carcinogen exposure. Kyd’s condition (laryngeal cancer) was determined to be directly related to exposure while he worked as a firefighter.
When speaking with others about Kyd, he is described as an invaluable member of the speech differences community and displays leadership, motivation, dedication, respect, honesty, integrity and a great sense of humor!
It is with pleasure that we present the 2022 Better Hearing and Speech Month Recognition Award to Kyd Dieterich. He will be presented with the award on June 6, 2022 during a monthly membership meeting of the Funkstown Fire Company.
This leadership recognition has been brought to you by Hamilton Relay.