adouglas
Well-known member
One of the very best things about this forum is that it's family.
A number of us have shared some of our personal difficulties, and the support has been truly heartwarming.
I'm afraid it's my turn.
My best friend and bandmate, Charles Mitchell, is a guy I've known for nearly 30 years. He's that rare kind of friend, the person who you will remain close to as long as you live. I think of him as my brother. He's the guy who first taught me to play.
He has thyroid cancer. This is not new; he was diagnosed about five years ago and has had two surgeries so far. Incredibly, his voice has remained largely intact and we've continued to play and perform. We've never sounded better. Singing is very important to him, and he and his wife harmonize beautifully. Playing with them is one of the greatest joys in my life.
Things have taken a turn. The cancer has spread to his liver, and he's also having a third surgery on his neck tomorrow. From what we're told, his voice will change forever. He may or may not be able to sing.
It's a very rough time right now the two of them and their 7-year-old daughter, as well as all of us who know, respect and love him.
As if that's not enough pain, their elderly Westie had to be put down last Saturday. Anyone who has a pet that is an integral part of the family knows how hard that can be on its own. On top of the surgery and the possible loss of a skill that is so important to him, it's almost too much.
We're staying positive about this. Our band will NOT end. We WILL continue to make music, even if it's different music. But there is no question that this is a huge, life-changing turning point.
This past weekend we got together to record what we could before the surgery. It was...difficult. It's hard to write about it. But we got it done. The performances aren't perfect, and it was pretty much all one-take recordings. But these recordings are going to be very precious to us.
He's going to what is arguably the best cancer center in the world, Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC. I have absolutely no doubt that the outcome of the surgery will be as good as it possibly can be.
Please keep Charles in your thoughts and prayers.
A number of us have shared some of our personal difficulties, and the support has been truly heartwarming.
I'm afraid it's my turn.
My best friend and bandmate, Charles Mitchell, is a guy I've known for nearly 30 years. He's that rare kind of friend, the person who you will remain close to as long as you live. I think of him as my brother. He's the guy who first taught me to play.
He has thyroid cancer. This is not new; he was diagnosed about five years ago and has had two surgeries so far. Incredibly, his voice has remained largely intact and we've continued to play and perform. We've never sounded better. Singing is very important to him, and he and his wife harmonize beautifully. Playing with them is one of the greatest joys in my life.
Things have taken a turn. The cancer has spread to his liver, and he's also having a third surgery on his neck tomorrow. From what we're told, his voice will change forever. He may or may not be able to sing.
It's a very rough time right now the two of them and their 7-year-old daughter, as well as all of us who know, respect and love him.
As if that's not enough pain, their elderly Westie had to be put down last Saturday. Anyone who has a pet that is an integral part of the family knows how hard that can be on its own. On top of the surgery and the possible loss of a skill that is so important to him, it's almost too much.
We're staying positive about this. Our band will NOT end. We WILL continue to make music, even if it's different music. But there is no question that this is a huge, life-changing turning point.
This past weekend we got together to record what we could before the surgery. It was...difficult. It's hard to write about it. But we got it done. The performances aren't perfect, and it was pretty much all one-take recordings. But these recordings are going to be very precious to us.
He's going to what is arguably the best cancer center in the world, Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC. I have absolutely no doubt that the outcome of the surgery will be as good as it possibly can be.
Please keep Charles in your thoughts and prayers.
