*** AMAZING STORY told by Fred Leonard ***
Fred Leonard – Husband, Father, Musician, Singer/Songwriter – but what a story to tell:
I was first diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma on the right side of my head in 2002. With regular MRI’s to check the status of this, they began to notice something abnormal on the left temporal lobe of my brain. In June 2006, and after 2 biopsied ‘awake’ brain surgeries, I came to find out that it was a Grade III Astrocytoma – a malignant brain tumor! Because of the location, the Doctors could not remove it, as it was sitting on the speech and memory lobe of my brain. So, I began radiation treatments and chemotherapy treatments in January 2007 in the hopes to shrink it. The tumor has been declared ‘in remission’ since June 2008, though I am currently taking maintenance chemo treatments in the hopes of keeping it in remission….until July 13.
I awoke that morning with pain in my chest, and by mid-day the pain was in both arms and in my jaw. A trip to the Emergency Room, and subsequent admission to the hospital revealed 3 blocked arteries in my heart: One, 90% blocked, one, 80% blocked and a third, 70% blocked. After a round table discussion with the heart surgeons and my oncologist,20it was decided to go forward with triple bypass surgery, even though because of the brain tumor and my history of 2 years of chemo treatments, they feared a possible brain bleed or stroke in doing so.
Following the heart surgery, my kidneys failed and my body and lungs filled with fluid. They placed me on a respirator and began dialysis. My family was told to expect 3-4 days of this, IF my kidneys weren’t damaged permanently. Within 12 hours, however, I was off the dialysis machine and my kidneys were taking over.
Because of this recent heart surgery, my chemo treatments have had to be delayed. It is my hope and prayer that when I am able to get back to it, the brain tumor will still be in remission.
As I have undergone treatments for over 2 years, I have talked with and come to know many people at the treatment center, most all of whom have since passed on.
While I am a positive and determined person, and have received excellent care from my Doctors, the only other explanation I have for beating these hurdles so far, is by faith in God and the thousands of prayers I have received and continue to receive from all around the world!
It is my hope and prayer that I will continue to beat the odds and be around for many years to come. It is also my hope to be able to use my music to further the cause of finding a cure for cancer through research. This is why I donate a portion of the sale20of each of my CD’s to the National Foundation for Cancer Research. Some day soon, it is my hope, that all cancer will be a treatable condition with a cure in sight!
FROM Rhon
Let's bond together and help Fred......the word needs to get out on radio...internet, TV, interviews , newspapers, etc for Fred to tell his story and answer questions and also have his music listened to so sales can be made to further research for Cancer. FRED and wife Becky and family are courageous folks and they need our help of opening doors for FRED to tell others about what he is going through and for important research to be done so others don't have to live with this nightmare. Fred has seen many friends on chemo die, and he wants to help others. Please email either Fred at FredLeonardMusic@aol.com or Rhon at rhonnies@aol.com. WOULDN'T IT BE FABULOUS IF WE COULD OPEN DOORS for Fred's important story to be told... We are open for any suggestions, people you know in T V, Radio , DJ's to do interviews, etc. working together for Fred is the key.... love and open hearts and prayer s can do wonders. Thanks for reading. Rhon
from Fred.....
This song was written,recorded dedicated to the memory of my neighbor Debbie who passed away from a malignant brain tumor.
"Fly Away"
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