Butch Baldassari's Cancer Fight

Butch has been battling an inoperable brain tumor, discovered last Spring after he noticed a loss of dexterity in his left hand. 

The following is a January 20th letter sent by Butch's wife, Sinclair, to family and friends. It is being shared here and is part of an ongoing message thread at Mandolin Café, where you can learn more about Butch's fight.

Dear Friends and Family,

At this time of year, I am reminded of one of my favorite quotes..."In the depths of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer."  Sounds like I suffer from "SAD" but I really believe in the existence of good in bad, light in dark, summer in winter and I guess the silver lining in every cloud.  

Butch had another important MRI and consultation lately.  When we got to the hospital that morning, we acknowledged how much power it all has over us, how we can be going on with our lives until "those days" when we have to go in for another set of tests.  The anxiety of sitting and waiting to hear news that might potentially be really unpleasant is enough to make anyone's blood pressure soar.  The MRI test itself seemed to take longer; the sounds  were louder; and the stress higher.  Perhaps because his last one gave negative results, we were more on edge.  After the test, I rolled  Butch to the very farthestmost corner (of course) of the hospital for the results.  It is amazing the MRI can be available in minutes.  So, we were met with smiles by the check-in nurses, who know us by now, and got a warm, electric greeting from the vivacious woman who does the labs.  I was thinking that maybe the news was good and they already knew it, trying to psyche myself out.  After labs we went in to wait for the doc.  Our team of doctors are very special.  If any of you ever are diagnosed with a brain tumour, we have the team for you.  Our "Captain" of the ship plays a mean jazz guitar and has a little photo of Kenny Burrell on his laptop, the one where we see the results of the MRIs!

So, that day was a day with a beautiful silver lining.  The results were good.  The central core of the tumour was approx 19 x 17 cm in November and now measured approx 15 x 13 cm.  We were told that there is also a lot less swelling in the surrounding tissues, harder to measure but less swollen.  Butch's eyes lit up like a child's.  He gave it the old two thumbs up, like Caesar letting both gladiators live or like Siskel and Ebert giving a movie good acclaim!  We walked out 10 feet above the ground, our heads in the clouds, elated.  It was close to freezing outside but I didn't even feel it until a strong gust reminded me.  It didn't matter. 

Since then, Butch has started occupational and physical therapy with two wonderful women whom he really likes.  He will be seeing them 2-3 times per week as well as still undergoing chemo, some energy treatments, acupuncture and other exercise at home.  Butch does a lot of smiling.  He is wearing special hats that have come our way and is uplifted every time we get a card or a note from one of you far away.  The bracelet pics are still coming in and someday I hope to get the whole slideshow online. 

One day, after another disappointing attempt at mandolin playing, Butch said, "If I can't play mandolin, I want to learn how to paint."  That week, he took his first painting lesson and has been inspired and will soon be cranking out the canvasses...at least we hope it will take that easily.  I keep reminding him that it isn't as easy as it looks but he has lots of ideas in his mind's eye.  I cannot wait to see them!  I am sure that with the various therapies, he will return to making music and until then, painting will be lots of fun.  Blake and I will be joining him in our own efforts.

As many of you know, the benefit in October was a great success.  It helped us with all of our bills from last year and then some.  John Reischmann and friends had another benefit at Dusty Strings in Seattle and at the end of this month, on January 31st, Jesse McReynolds will have his yearly benefit and has generously offered to make Butch his recipient.  NME has played three gigs without Butch.  I know he's really with them in their hearts and minds and in the way they put a show together.  They are so very talented and it is quite special that they can keep it going until Butch returns.  They played a really nice gig in Modesto, California this past week and will also be performing at Jesse's benefit in Gallatin at the Civic Center on the 31st.

We, as always, thank God for those around us who feed us in every way imaginable, with food, prayers, financial help and now some much needed work on our house.  Please know that each of you has a special place in our hearts and that though winds blow cold, the invincible warmth of your love carries us every day.  Come and visit...don't be strangers.

Once again, I found many errors in our database so it has been reconfigured once again.  Please feel free to forward this to anyone you think might like to know what's going on with us and send us new addresses for us to add if you'd like.

Love and blessings to you for a joyous 2008,
Sinclair, Butch and Blake

You can contact us via email at soundartrecordings@comcast.net or by writing:

Butch Baldassari
125 43rd Ave. N.
Nashville, TN 37209