Others had had laryngectomies, or else defective hearing, or learning disabilities, or for an unknown reason had begun speaking much later than was normal.

It is the agency's first national anti-smoking advertising effort and features people whose smoking resulted in heart surgery, laryngectomy, lost limbs or paralysis.

The CDC said Monday that the hole in Wright's throat resulted from a laryngectomy - the removal of his voice box - not a tracheotomy.