A Message of thanks from Candye Kane
Candye Kane cancer update, thank you’s and more:
(Theres alot of news and a lot of people to thank in this here email. So, if you
like,just scroll down to the bottom of the page for our concert dates…and
tounsubscribe, just write back and write REMOVE in the subject line. Thanks so much.)
* * *
Hello everyone from my hospital bed at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles! I under went
a whipple revision surgery on May 2 for a recurrence of the neuroendocrin epancreatic
cancer that first appeared in 2008 on my pancreatic head. The results of the surgery
are still not complete but so far, it looks like they wereable to remove all or most
of the cancer and if things go according to plan, mylife should resume normalcy very
soon. Cross your fingers!
I am in a lot of pain now but am taking things one day at a time. I have about
75 stitches in my abdomen. Dr. Nicolas Nissen and his team here at cedars, removed the
cancerous tumor and scar tissue and then attached my pancreatic duct to my small
intestine. I have a rough next few months ahead but it has been made so much easier
by the girl who is staying here with me in our lovely hospital room. Of course I am
referring tomy talented guitarist and best friend, Laura Chavez. Laura stays here
at the hospital with me, attends almost all of my doctor appointments and helps meso
much with my pain and anxiety. She is truly an angel and it has been a
life-saverhaving her here to hold my hand and help me through the suffering. My two
sons, Evan and Tommy have been wonderful; visiting often and helping me stay
optimistic,and my ex husband Thomas has been here by my side often, as well. Cancer
is difficultand it is hard to stay positive even when/if you believe you are the
toughest girlalive! I am so grateful to be surrounded by family and friends who love
me and care about me during this crazy time.
They postponed my surgery and moved it around because of the chronic pancreatitis
I have been experiencing all year. It has been so hard but I know there is something
to be learned from all this suffering and that on some level, it will bring about
spiritual growth. I hope that you too, will start working on yourown core and
foundation so that you can use the tragedies in your life as opportunities to grow
and thrive. And I pray for the strength and courage it will take for me to manage
this excruciating pain when it becomes in tolerable.I hope to continue to be an
example of strength for others and feel humbled and honored to find myself in such an
important position.
And if these awesome blessings weren’t already enough, I am surrounded by thousands
offriends and fans in the music community who rallied together to raise money inmy
honor. This week many of them will come together in Memphis to attend theNational
Blues Awards where I am nominated for two blues awards: BB King Entertainer of the
Year and Best Contemporary Blues Female! I am honored bythis show of support from my
peers. It’s too late to vote this year but its nottoo late to visit www.blues.org
and join up for as low as $25.00. Become a memberof this great organization and show
your support for our beautiful blues family. Laura Chavez and my son Evan will attend
the blues awards this week May9-13th and I wish I could be there with my blues pals
in Memphis but am honoredto be included in the same sentence with so many talented
people. Thank you blues foundation and blues community!
More than 25k has been raised already in my name and will be indispensable in
the coming months as I ease down on my touring schedule and concentrate on healing.I
will be able to pay my band members a salary whilst we take some time off toheal.
Although I have PCIP (pre existing condition insurance program) many ofthe
medications and treatments I need exceed the amount paid by my insurance. The money
raised from the benefits will save my life financially and help me torecover quickly
without the added stress of financial worries.
I want tothank all of you for your beautiful, hand made gifts, art pieces,
quilts,poetry, mojo bags, paintings and cards. And specifically I wish to thank
eachone of you who donated to my cancer fund thru pay pal or thru a personal check.
Please forgive me if I forget tomention your name here but know that I am trying to
write back personally to many of you and that will take me a bit of time. Some
donations were sentanonymously and for those, I am especially grateful. How
beautiful to show yourlove for a sister human being without even including a way for
me to say thank you? I think that is the ultimateact of unselfishness – when we give
to someone simply because we can and don’teven care if we are thanked or
acknowledged. We are part of a karmic circle ofhealing and love on this planet and I
do believe our good works will reflectback on us when we need them most. It may not
be a payback in a way that we want or expect but every act of love and kindness
emanates outward like aripple in a stream. Please continue to give when you can and
help others inneed. It’s a beautiful world when we realize how many hearts are out
there -beating next to ours and wishing us well. I am so humbled and blessed. I know
Iam a magnet for love and healing and I know that you are too!
I am solucky to be able to use the bandstand and my microphone to broadcast my
needs during desperate times. So many people don’t have a platform and waiting ears to
respond. Here is my first attempt to thank just some of the people who stepped up to
the plate to help;
Phoenix Blues Society member Kyle Deibler unexpectedly handed me a generous check
when last I played in Phoenix. Healer and publisher Louise Hay was one of the
first responders sending a check for $1000.00! Naomi Nussbaum and the Synergy
ArtsFoundation of Solana Beach gave me $2500. My friend Ed Maloney at HWY 99
inSeattle stepped in with the help of Karen Lovely and Lori Haynes and the Shanghai
Pearl. They raised close to $1000 for me in one evening of blues atour second home,
HWY 99, featuring Karens’ powerhouse vocals and her tremendousband. Ed Maloney is a
true mensch and I am so grateful to him for hisfriendship. And Karen and Lori? What
can I say? Ever since I met them both atthe 2010 International Blues Challenge, I
knew they would become my lifelongfriends. The Shanghai Pearl? Well, she’s a
burlesque dancer of extreme beautyand talent who appears in my dreams weekly!
Rochelle Ray, Lila Sherman, Sharla Cook and many of my friends at Bob Corritore’s
Rhythm Room in Phoenix raised close to $1000!!
Many others- people from all over the world, whom I know don’t have that much money,
wrote generous checks and/or sent money via paypal — from $100 – $1000.00!
Douglas Farage, Phil Brocklesby, Judy Blake, Shirley Forster, Brent Bonet,
John Podaras, Ernest Hendersen, Jim and Nancy Saw, Marcia Ball, Howard Walker,
Jaynede Haan, Joris Van Wijngaarden, Michael Weinberg, Kathy Gordon, Robert
Pitts,Philip Russell, Howard and Marsha Berkson – just a few of the hundreds
of generous givers who sent me money from their own hard earned bank accounts! Rolf
Johannsen from Bucleys Blue Club in Oslo, Norway sent a huge gift and Dietmar Hoscher
and Wolfgang Windbacher of the Reigen Club Live in Vienna,Austria gave generously!
THANK YOU!
My long timemusical partner and collaborator, Sue Palmer stepped up early to host a
benefitat Croces with Ingrid Croce making generous donations of both her club and
her money.Musicians Lisa Sanders, Eve Selis, April West, Sharon Shufelt, Steve
Wilcox,David Mosby, Deejha Marie Pope, Jonny Viau, Rob and Melissa Hague and so
manymore came together to make it a terrific success and many wrote generouschecks.
SO GRATEFUL!
The next benefit was spearheaded by Joey Scruggs in Portland Oregon at the Alberta
RoseTheater. Joey organized a wonderful tribute to Etta James which included a
starstudded cast of the Northwest finest talents. DK Stewart, Bobby Torres,
DuffyBishop, Lisa Mann, La Rhonda Steele, Rae Gordon and Amy Keyes came together
tohonor Etta James and donated over $1000 to my cancer fund. My friends from Starkys
on Stark, my favorite gay bar, donated generously as well. I am so touched.
Next KellyZirbes, Casey Reagan and Julie Jenkins hosted a benefit for me at Joes Bar
and Grill in Burbank Califoria. They brought together some of my closest friends
inmusic in my hometown of California and collected hundreds of dollars worth
ofprizes for the raffle tickets which included a beautiful painting of me
byquadriplegic painter Cindi Bernhardt. Deke Dickerson, Jason Ricci, Gino Matteo,
Randy Chortkoff, The 44s with Kid Ramos, Paul Loranger, LauraChavez, Mike Turturro,
Sugar Ray Radford and Kellys lot assembled an amazingevening of talent and blew the
roof off of Joes, raising over 4k to help outtheir Los Angeles home girl.
April 30 wasa tremendous night in blues history with so many people lending their
names ,hearts, songs and support at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach. My long
time friend Janiva Magness came up with an idea and Michael Kinsman and
Barbara Hammerman made it soar. Rick Estrin and Evan Caleb Yearsley co-hosted the
event and brought these luminaries to the bandstand; The Nightcats w Kid Andersen,
Jay Hansen, Lorenzo Farrell, Tommy Castro, Debbie Davies, Anson Funderburgh, Kim
Wilson, Larry Taylor, The Beat Farmers with Joey Harris, Joel Kmak, Jerry Raney
andRolle Love, Dave and Phil Alvin, Lisa Pankratz and Brad Fordham, Chris Miller,
RandyMcdonald, Michele Lundeen, Ruby Bashore, Kennan Shaw, Billy Watson, Big
Al Schneider, Scottie Blinn, and the legendary Carl Sonny Leyland. Special thanks to
Chad and Jeff at the Belly Up and all the awesome staff at the BUT. I was so sorry to
miss this tremendous evening of talent and am so grateful for the more than 17k that
was raised!
There will be one more benefit in my honor thrown by the KING OF HEARTS CHET CANNON.
Chet has assembled a stellar case to come together at Humphreys in San Diego on May
28th to raise the roof for a few extra dollars towards the cause. This money will
likely come in handy as well. I found out today that they have found what they think
is a second tumor on my mesenteric artery. They have placed pre-emptive markers on
the artery, which is far too dangerous and crucial to treat by surgery. (I could
bleed to death if they operated on this artery.) If the biopsy comes back as cancer,
they will use the pre-emptive markers to target the cancer with radiation. This
treatment will only take a few days but it could likely make me sick and unable to
work for a little while. Chet’s money and all the funds that have been raised will
help me in what looks like the biggest fight of my life. I am again, so honored by
all of the amazing people all around me.
Its not too late for you to donate yourself if you like. Send a check to my po box
at: candye kane / 315 S. HWY 101 #47 Encinitas, CA 92024 or give at www.paypal.com -
click on send money — moc.loanull@ruotenakeydnacot
Time will be going slowly these next few months as I am taught another lesson of
patience -with the world and with my own body. Remember when you beep at that
person slowly crossing the crosswalk or scurry past the old lady in line at
the supermarket. They may have just had surgery themselves and need that extra time to
get their stitched and bruised up bodies cooperating. Remember the healing when you
speed up to cut off the guy in front of you, who is driving just a bit too slowly
for your taste. He could be me, or Nick Curran or Leo Aston or a myriad of
other people involved in a battle of wills against cancer or some other malady. Cancer
is here to humble me again but it will not win. May it teach me another hard learned
lesson of humility — and may I finally get it right this time!
I will see you onstage again in Simi Valley on May 27th I will likely do the show
seated but I will be there. COUNT ON IT and thank you for letting me count on YOU!
If you’veread this far, then you really deserve a big juicy hug and kiss from me!
Cometo one of these venues to collect!!!
Big love and Gratitude,
Candye Kane
Band Dates:
5/10 Memphis, TN/ The National Blues Awardswww.blues.org
Candye is nominated for Best Contemporary BluesFemale and BB King Entertainer of the
year!
5/27 Simi Valley, CA/ Cajun and Creole Festival
5/31 Encinitas, CA/ Calypso Cafe
6/22 San Diego/ Private party
6/23 San Luis Obispo, CA/ SLO Brewing company
6/24 Pioneertown, CA/ Pappy and Harriets
7/6 Topeka, KS/ Uncle Bos
7/7 Kansas City, MO/ Knuckleheads
7/11 Sioux Falls, SD/ Old Skoolz
7/13 Lincoln, Ne/ Zoofest!
7/14 Lincoln. Nebraska/ Lincoln Gay Pride
8/9 Oceana, Michigan Womyns Festival w JodieWoodward, Sue Palmer, Sharon Shufelt./
www.michfest.com
8/19 Marshfield, Mass (near Boston)/ Harbor Rootsand Blues Festival
8/25 Byron, Illinois/ Crossroads Blues festival
9/1 Nantes, France/ Blues Festival
12/7 Tuolomne, Ca/ Black Oak Casino
When we choose actions that bring happiness andsuccess to others, the fruit of our
karma is happiness and success
- Deepak Chopra
www.candyekane.com
www.myspace.com/candyekaneband
www.facebook.com/candyekaneband
Big Love and Gratitude,
Candye
When we choose actions that bring happiness and success to others, the fruit of our
karma is happiness and success
- Deepak Chopra
www.candyekane.com
www.facebook.com/candyekaneband
Find me at about.me/candyekane
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