It is strange what a diagnosis of a year to live does to you.

 

You become very aware of how much you don’t want to die.

 

Everyday since last October when I was diagnosed with Glioblastoma, I have tried my very best to make sure that prognosis was wrong. Immediately when I was diagnosed, Sonia cancelled all shows and while she has been able to go do some things, she still has not been able to get back to a full schedule.

 

I am not able to work, so not only have the bills piled up, our income has become extremely limited. On top of that, as we start into the winter, because of my compromised immune system every public event that Sonia attends puts me at risk of her bringing something home to me – so we are being extremely careful. Especially when you are fighting Glioblastoma, it could be the thing that ends my fight, AND I’m not ready.

 

I got to spend this Christmas with family after missing all the holidays last year, and then ending up in ICU in January for a burned esophagus.  

 

When this started I truly had no idea how costly treatments would be, especially since I had insurance. Unfortunately, insurance does not cover it all. I thought we would be ok...

 

I’m grateful for the friends in our lives that convinced SONiA to do a GoFundMe, and it did help us get thru the early days. We were able to get the bed I needed. Between the GoFundMe and using our credit cards we were able to pay for the pinpoint radiation which I believe is why I am still alive 14 months later.

 

After getting out of ICU, I started back on a new course of Chemo and radiation, and while it made me very sick in the fall, they gave me an option to take a break until the next MRI on December 30th.

I opted to do that not only to give my body a rest, but to see if maybe we could catch up on the bills if I was not continuing to run them up.  

 

Now comes the hard part... We are $90,000 short of what we need for me to continue my treatments and keep a roof over our head. 

 

As we face my MRI this week and the possibility of more treatments not covered, I am worried about how we will pay our bills. Just paying for heating oil has become difficult at this point.

 

In August and September of 2024, I was swimming 30 miles in 30 days for cancer, all the while unaware that a cancerous tumor was forming in my brain.

 

Now when I swim it is to gather the power of the water and so many have joined me around the world to help me feel that strength. THANK YOU.

 

The community has been amazing from our friends on Facebook, to the Disappear Fear family, to the Vandiver Inn, and True North Project... and now, Frantic Music Project, which has done so much for so many musicians in the Delaware region.  

 

Mary and Al helped our friend Christine Havrilla so much. I feel blessed that Frantic Music Project is helping to alleviate some of our financial worries in this fight against Brain cancer. With Sonia having lost so much work due to caring for me, this will help us tremendously.

 

Frantic Music Project is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and is accepting donations to benefit us to help cover our ongoing expenses, through their Catastrophic Relief Fund. Donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law (Please consult your tax advisor).

 

I am forever grateful to everyone who has been there thru all of this with me and Sonia, and I hope you will join me in thanking Frantic Music for their support and help us reach our goal by donating.
 
Hope to see you on the road in 2026, but if not please go out and support live music and Frantic Music to keep our community strong and together. 

Love,
Terry Irons