Tagged: cancer

Tony Iommi facing a demon

I was on the train, on my way home from work….pulled out my cell to check my e-mail. Went on Facebook and saw a message left by Neil Murray:

Wishing Jon Lord and Tony Iommi all the strength and luck needed to fight cancer. Here’s hoping for a return to full health and many more years of creativity!

It’s strange how the world just stops for a moment. You think you got it wrong, so you read it again. Cancer? Not again…! Suddenly all the worst scenarios start going through your head.

You get scared – because what’s always been there in your life, solid as a rock – are your metal heroes. And Tony Iommi is a legend. Without him we wouldn’t be listening to this music, you probably wouldn’t be reading this blog and I certainly wouldn’t be writing it. The people who are playing the music we all love, wouldn’t have known it existed unless Tony and a few other dudes had invented it….

People like that are immortal. I always thought that Dio was one of those people who would be around forever and ever, because it felt that way. Those that have always been there are kind of like family. You expect them to be well and live forever. In a way I guess they do.

Well, those are only the first moments when all the WORST case scenarios run through your head. You stop to take things for granted for a second, it just shakes you up a little bit.

Even legends get sick. 

It reminds you that they are human, after all.

I texted my friend in Australia who’s a huge Iommi-fan and he was stunned and a bit shocked too. But, once you shake that fear and start thinking positively and realistically you realize that there’s no reason to freak out.

Tony’s lymphoma has been detected early with good cure rates. And this is a very determined man. I think and believe that he will be just fine.
Jon Lord was diagnosed with cancer too recently and he’s doing okay. Cancer can be cured, it’s no longer a death sentence.

We should all send our love and positive thoughts to Tony and the support he needs for a speedy recovery. He’ll get through this a winner. 

Get well soon Tony!

A gift that makes sense

I got a message from a friend on Facebook today that said:

“Ever heard of Sven Gali? Awesome band from Toronto. They are still around, but the guitar player Dee Cernile was diagnosed with 4th stage lung cancer which spread into the lymph nodes and bones :( (I think he was diagnosed 3-4 yrs ago…his hair is all gone :().

We opened for them on their first album tour (back in the day when there was only ONE opening band) and he is an AWESOME guy.

There is a fund set up for him to help him financially. When ya donate some cash they send you some special dayplanner. He has been going thru a rough time in the last few months so I ponied up the dough and wondering if just maybe you could mention the fund in your blog? Or something? He really does need the help”.

As soon as I got a few minutes to go check it out, I donated $24 to the cause. Not because I’m a big fan of Sven Gali – I can’t even say that I ever listened much to them. I know who they are because a Canadian friend sent me links to their videos on Youtube years ago. 

In this case, it’s not even about being a fan or not. It’s about…LIFE. Plain and simple.  

It becomes personal when someone tells you about someone they know and like, and lets you know that he or she needs help to get the right treatment.

Cause frankly people, how many of you are out there shopping Christmas-presents like crazy right now? You are spending money you probably don’t even have, because you feel that you “have to”. That’s all cool, we’re all caught up in the shopping-circus this time of year.

THIS however, is a gift to a stranger, one of those things that you do just because it’s the right thing to do, and you know that it is. Someday it could be me – or you. 

If you want to chip in – go to this site and make your contribution:  http://dayplannerfordee.chipin.com/dee-cernile