June 16th, I was driving home from work when I noticed I couldn't lift my leg from the gas pedal. I was headed straight for the back of a pontoon boat sitting on top of a trailer, being driven by truck. I was having a partial seizure, and my right side wasn't doing what I was telling it to. Luckily, I managed to stomp on the break pedal with my other foot and bring my car safely to a stop. It took me a couple of minutes before I could even get out of the car, in shock I immediately called my girlfriend. She took me to the nearby emergency room where I found out, after getting an MRI, that i had a large tumor putting pressure on the left side of my brain. I was admitted to St. Anthony's to take on emergency brain surgery four days later. Dr Robinson performed my surgery to remove most of the tumor, about 95% of it.
Then I had to begin reteaching myself to do everything again. Since the tumor was in my dominant hemisphere I lost control of right side functions. I had a hard time finding the right words to explain how I was feeling so speech therapy was needed. I had no problem with reciting familiar words I had memorized, but whenever I had to think about what I was saying I spoke extremely slow, this was heart breaking for me where I usually got my pleasure from quick cadences. I couldn't play my guitar, my rhythm hand had no rhythm. I had to begin doing physical therapy to regain my strength. I had to wait a couple weeks to begin treatment for the rest of what was left of the tumor. Since Glioblastoma Multiforme grows so aggressively I began Radiation and Chemotherapy as soon as possible. After 30 days of treatment I got to take a month off to regenerate.
Well I am sitting here with about a week left of my break. I'm waiting for October 1st to see what the next MRI says. Getting brain cancer wasn't all bad. I feel great about all the life changes that I made. It really opened my eyes to seeing that everyday is a gift, and I don't think I will ever take that for granted again. I quit coffee and alcohol completely, began meditating on the daily, and changed my diet to healthier alternatives. I am living healthier than ever before. I still have 18 to 20 months of intense Chemotherapy ahead of me, but I am confident I will beat this.
Cancer is tricky, like walking a fine line between healthy and unhealthy. U want to protect your good cells, but U don't want to protect your cancer cells in the process. So whenever I meditate, I focus on healing the damaged cells, while killing the cancerous ones. I have been receiving reflexology, using essential oils, physical therapy, and vibroacoustic therapy in tandem with the best of western medicine to help out in this mission. So far I think it is working. My oncologist, Dr. Arenson is astounded with how well I am receiving the treatments with minimal side effects, but I got to say that cannabis has been the major contributing factor for taking away all my possible side effects- Thank U Colorado for not frowning upon its use! I feel bad for other cancer patients going through treatments without it. Yeah, it gets U high- is that really a bad thing? It's the same feeling I get when I'm playing my music for people.
It's time to start giving back to the people who saved my life. So I'm looking into teaming up with various brain cancer organizations to throw benefit shows. Thank U Dr. Wright! Thank U Dr. Robinson! Thank U Dr. Arenson! Thank U to all the people who picked this difficult task of saving people from something that does not have a high success rate. Your hearts are in the right place.
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What is your favorite venue, that U have been too, or would like to see your favorite music???
Reply
James and the Devil play long sets, and cover a very wide variety of musical Styles and Techniques. They wanna know what your favorite genre's are, and even specific songs you could imagine them performing. What is your favorite???
Reply
What does the name, James and the Devil, mean to U??? James and the Devil, have been quoted saying, "it represents the yin-yang that seems to exist in life's journey..." It could be the consciousness's that stands on each of your shoulders, debating the outcome of a decision- Perhaps the name goes even deeper, with several exaggerated stories, from fans, and even from band members, themselves.
"We like to think of it like a symbol of the Every-man and his unique adversary." -David Ross, Fiddler J&theD
"..it's a Mark Twain thing- I picture the dialogue, between an un-yet-corrupted kid fishing off a riverbank, coincidentally stumbling into a conversation with the Devil, while talking to himself.." - Jim Campbell, Rhythm J&theD
The band has two members sharing the name James, so which one of U is the Devil???
"Whoever the DD is for the night" - James and the Devil
"Adam Herman"- James and the Devil
Reply
James and The Devil / Blog
Brain Cancer
June 16th, I was driving home from work when I noticed I couldn't lift my leg from the gas pedal. I was headed straight for the back of a pontoon boat sitting on top of a trailer, being driven by truck. I was having a partial seizure, and my right side wasn't doing what I was telling it to. Luckily, I managed to stomp on the break pedal with my other foot and bring my car safely to a stop. It took me a couple of minutes before I could even get out of the car, in shock I immediately called my girlfriend. She took me to the nearby emergency room where I found out, after getting an MRI, that i had a large tumor putting pressure on the left side of my brain. I was admitted to St. Anthony's to take on emergency brain surgery four days later. Dr Robinson performed my surgery to remove most of the tumor, about 95% of it. Then I had to begin reteaching myself to do everything again. Since the tumor was in my dominant hemisphere I lost control of right side functions. I had a hard time finding the right words to explain how I was feeling so speech therapy was needed. I had no problem with reciting familiar words I had memorized, but whenever I had to think about what I was saying I spoke extremely slow, this was heart breaking for me where I usually got my pleasure from quick cadences. I couldn't play my guitar, my rhythm hand had no rhythm. I had to begin doing physical therapy to regain my strength. I had to wait a couple weeks to begin treatment for the rest of what was left of the tumor. Since Glioblastoma Multiforme grows so aggressively I began Radiation and Chemotherapy as soon as possible. After 30 days of treatment I got to take a month off to regenerate. Well I am sitting here with about a week left of my break. I'm waiting for October 1st to see what the next MRI says. Getting brain cancer wasn't all bad. I feel great about all the life changes that I made. It really opened my eyes to seeing that everyday is a gift, and I don't think I will ever take that for granted again. I quit coffee and alcohol completely, began meditating on the daily, and changed my diet to healthier alternatives. I am living healthier than ever before. I still have 18 to 20 months of intense Chemotherapy ahead of me, but I am confident I will beat this. Cancer is tricky, like walking a fine line between healthy and unhealthy. U want to protect your good cells, but U don't want to protect your cancer cells in the process. So whenever I meditate, I focus on healing the damaged cells, while killing the cancerous ones. I have been receiving reflexology, using essential oils, physical therapy, and vibroacoustic therapy in tandem with the best of western medicine to help out in this mission. So far I think it is working. My oncologist, Dr. Arenson is astounded with how well I am receiving the treatments with minimal side effects, but I got to say that cannabis has been the major contributing factor for taking away all my possible side effects- Thank U Colorado for not frowning upon its use! I feel bad for other cancer patients going through treatments without it. Yeah, it gets U high- is that really a bad thing? It's the same feeling I get when I'm playing my music for people. It's time to start giving back to the people who saved my life. So I'm looking into teaming up with various brain cancer organizations to throw benefit shows. Thank U Dr. Wright! Thank U Dr. Robinson! Thank U Dr. Arenson! Thank U to all the people who picked this difficult task of saving people from something that does not have a high success rate. Your hearts are in the right place.
Reply
What is your favorite Venue???
What is your favorite venue, that U have been too, or would like to see your favorite music???
Reply
Love it when you play Kermitts--the setting is beautiful and listening to you guys play outside (in the afternoon) is the perfect afternoon!! Play there more often, please!! Also, enjoy the Platte River Grill in Littleton!
What is your favorite J&theD Style???
James and the Devil play long sets, and cover a very wide variety of musical Styles and Techniques. They wanna know what your favorite genre's are, and even specific songs you could imagine them performing. What is your favorite???
Reply
What is in a Name???
What does the name, James and the Devil, mean to U??? James and the Devil, have been quoted saying, "it represents the yin-yang that seems to exist in life's journey..." It could be the consciousness's that stands on each of your shoulders, debating the outcome of a decision- Perhaps the name goes even deeper, with several exaggerated stories, from fans, and even from band members, themselves.
"We like to think of it like a symbol of the Every-man and his unique adversary." -David Ross, Fiddler J&theD
"..it's a Mark Twain thing- I picture the dialogue, between an un-yet-corrupted kid fishing off a riverbank, coincidentally stumbling into a conversation with the Devil, while talking to himself.." - Jim Campbell, Rhythm J&theD
The band has two members sharing the name James, so which one of U is the Devil???
"Whoever the DD is for the night" - James and the Devil "Adam Herman"- James and the Devil
Reply