Laryngectomy is not uncommon in throat cancer patients, often occurring early on in treatment but occasionally much later. No one wants to lose their voice in this world but it's not the end of living either. I had a friend who went through similar yet lived many years after treatment, dying from heart issues years later. He refused to use a type to voice pad or any similar devices. He simply kept a small notepad and pen in his pocket for communication and came up with clever gestures to get his point across at meetings or in public. So life changing? Not really. Just different.
Sad to read what your partner is going through. No one should have to make decisions like this in life. Courage.