Butch Baldassari update

[Steve Gorman]

Butch, Sinclair and Blake:

Sorry to hear about any hospital trip. Kick it's ### Butch! I will send a worrier prayer to you tonight EST.

[Scott Tichenor]

An update from Sinclair to share. Thanks again to everyone showing their support for Butch and his family.

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Dear Circle of Loved Ones,

I know it's taken me a long time to get this letter together and I apologize for many of you being in the dark. Before the rumor mill once again raises its ugly head, let me say that we are so blessed and proud to be surrounded by such great friends and to have you all in our lives. Every day, I feel more and more aware of how much Butch means to all of you and Blake and I share in that love and admiration for him. He is a trooper, a survivor, a true original.

On Monday the 28th after coming home from the monthly evaluation in Birmingham, Butch suffered a large bleed in his tumor, presenting as a stroke, and was taken by ambulance to Vanderbilt. He has since been paralyzed on the left side although there has been much improvement in his condition. When he went in to the hospital, his face was clearly affected and his mouth was very droopy on the left side. He could not move his left leg and arm and he was suffering from what is called left side neglect, where the patient cannot acknowledge his left hemisphere. He did not recognize his own left arm, when held in front of him and he was unable to draw the numbers on the left side of a clock, fascinating! He can do the clock now and knows his arm, or maybe he got wise to the fact that the arm we held up in front of him must be his! As far as the bleed part of it, modern medicine, in cooperation with his brain has stabilized the situation...for now. It will be closely monitored with neurological checks and MRIs. Through the work of the physical therapists, I have learned some of their exercises and on days that they cannot come, I work him hard! It has paid off well. He is moving his left leg with a lot of strength and I know, with the passage of time and a lot of work, it can and will only get better.

Yesterday, we got the word that he will be moved to the Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital of Vanderbilt Medical Center, assuming that our insurance will cover it. It is an excellent place with a great reputation. They work him hard ( four sessions of 45 minutes per day) and I will not be able to be with him as much as I can now but I know we are working in the right direction. They will work him hard and he will have to do a lot of stuff himself that is done for him in the hospital. He will hopefully be moved there on Monday.

Last night, we were in his room with our traditional watching of the Olympic Opening Ceremonies, something our family always does together. It is a time when I am always reminded of how proud I am to be an American and especially this year, how proud I am to be married to someone as special as Butch. He is a hero in my eyes, brave and strong, talented and sensitive. Blake starts school on Monday and the summer will grind to a halt. With the fall come the holidays and Butch will be outside putting up the yardart for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Today he commented on how in the hospital, time sometimes goes fast, sometimes slow but that it doesn't seem to matter because there's no place he needs to be. I corrected him by letting him know that he's right where he needs to be, getting better, getting stronger, coming home.

On a recent hot summer day, I set the timer on my camera and took this picture of my three loves, my dad, my son and my husband. They are standing in front of the mural Blake was commissioned to paint with two friends. He has since been asked to do a couple more jobs and is working on one right now. I also enclose a shot of the "pop art" Blake and I did for the Gilda's Art of Survivorship Tour which is on display at Gilda's in Nashville but which might be traveling to a city near you. I entitled it "Rays of Hope" and it is made up of pill bottles, representing how much hope we put into every pill we take towards good health.

To all of you, embrace where you are and make the best of it. Seize the moment and thank the big man upstairs, or whatever force guides you through each day, for giving you that day. Again, know how thankful we are for you.

Much love,
Sinclair and Blake

[Scott Tichenor]

[jasona]

Stay strong Baldassaris. Best wishes are going your way.

[Kevin Briggs]

Yes, please stay as positive as possible, and, most importantly, continue to love each other.

[Jim Kirkland]

Butch you do not know me, but I feel like I have known you all my mando career. I lived with you on the bluegrass dvds as you taught me how to figure out the mando. I have passed those skills on to others, that you also have not meet. I know that I am a better mando player by hanging out with you on the dvds. Our prayers are with you and your family. Jim Kirkland, Las Cruces, NM

[johnM]

Please let butch know that he's been the most inspirational part of my mandolin world, for what he's done for the mandolin I don't think anyone will ever compare.

Please take care of your family, your in our prayers.

jm

[Don Grieser]

Butch, you've taught us all much about the mandolin. Now you and your family are teaching us much about living. Blessings to you, Sinclair, and Blake.

[mandolooter]

very well put Don and we are all here with ya during this time of struggle.
Jeff

[the new mandolin player]

Continue to trust in the BIG MAN up there, you guys are blessed. Love the pics. Continue to keep you in my prayers. God Bless.

[re simmers]

You and your family are in my prayers.

[Mary Vivit]

Thinking of you all... Keep hope in your hearts!

[jonwints]

Dear Mr Baldissari,
You wonderful teachers are a rare breed. Please stay with us and get well soon! I've mastered ,"Little Rabbit". I love the mandolin. It has improved my life thanks to you. I'm improving my music every day thanks to your inspiration.
Warmest Regards to you and your family.
John Wintle
Melbourne,
Australia

[kohaylan]

Dear Sinclair,Butch and Blake,
I have just read about Jon Weisberger, Roland White, Alison Brown and Pat Enright visiting you.
That sounds like something to really give you a lift. Good people they are - Bless them all!!
Jon said you were making requests and cracking jokes Butch. Thats good and cheering news.
The wristband has arrived safely and I will send a photo as soon as I can.

To paraphrase Mr. Monroe's tune title - " Fight, Fight On" !

Very Best Wishes as ever, Kenny (in England)

[Scott Tichenor]

I just had a nice long conversation with Butch by phone and was really moved by the visit and his positive outlook. I haven't had the chance to talk to him since the stroke. He was in a good mood, has his own cell phone now and said he's trying to burn it up, and asked that I post his phone number here--Sinclair may kill me for doing it--but I'm doing it anyway. He said if you feel like calling him, please do: (615) 727-3815. Ricky Skaggs was by today to play a few tunes for him and to visit. Riders In The Sky have been by, and many more. He said there's been a lot of great music in his room. He's not yet able to stand or sit on his own, but that he's receiving therapy and is amazed at the talent and kindness of those that care for him. I told him I'd see him a month from now at IBMA and that if he's mobile I'd bring him to the Cafe meet and great, and if he's not, we'll spend time together wherever that takes us.

Edit: he also asked that you not call past 8:00 p.m. which is Central Time.

[fatt-dad]

Note to self: Send a self-portrait, mandolin-related, wrist-band photo text message to said cell phone and see if it get's there. Some of the older set need to get practice with this type of technology - I'm still learning!

f-d

[Corr@do]

"Spiriti Salvi Band" together for Butch.

Always in our thoughts.
Corrado, Cremona, Italy.

http://xoomer.alice.it/spiritisalvi

[Corr@do]

"Me and my guitar"... together for Butch.

Corrado, Cremona, Italy.

[Scott Tichenor]

An update from Sinclair just not and a nice picture of our man Butch, in our thoughts.

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It is a new experience not only saying that I am trying to recognize God's will instead of my own but realizing that God's will is playing a part in our lives every day. The three of us were going to attend my mother's 80th birthday celebration on August 29th. All of my siblings were going to be there. A special room had been reserved for Butch. Then he suffered the hemorrhage in his brain tumor and was hospitalized. I was sad but realized we probably wouldn't be going to the weekend party. Then Butch told us that he really wanted us to go. I took Blake out of school. I lined up a house and cat sitter. I set up many visitors for Butch, including lots of exciting musical guests and others. I talked to all of the nurses and caregivers and gave them new contact info for the time we'd be gone. I got rides lined up at both airports. I bought, wrapped and schlepped presents. I packed our bag in record time. Blake and I got to the airport and sustained three big hits from mechanical failure to delayed flights and found that we could not possibly arrive in Florida until 6 1/2 hours after the party was to start. We cancelled everything. I went home and fell into my bed for about 10 hours. I was in the midst of a full blown pity party. I even called Butch to tell him I was too depressed to visit him that night. Usually I spend between 4 and 10 hours a day in the hospital with him and I just couldn't do it that day.

The following morning, I felt better and pulled myself up by my bootstraps to begin another day, hopefully a much better one! I braced myself for whatever my morning visit to the hospital would bring and walked into the room to a sweet smiling Butch. I was really happy to be there with him and he was so thankful that I was there as well, told me he had missed me and that he was sorry we couldn't get out but glad we were around, too. Then the magnificent thing that I read as a true sign of God's will and promise. As I was massaging Butch's arms, legs, hands and feet, I saw a definite improvement in his left side. His left leg could "push down" much better than it could before and 2 fingers on his left hand moved...not in my imagination but in front of me and the doctor! I was so overjoyed and could only believe that I was meant to be by his side instead of winging my way to a fun weekend away.

In the time since, Butch has continued to have good and bad days. The therapy he received at Stallworth was wonderful and I believe we have made some lifelong friends. We ran into an insurance glitch this week as our coverage time ran out on us and the room we had hoped to get at a wonderful and close-by skilled nursing facility, was not available. Two days were spent in limbo looking for a spot. Prayer after prayer was tossed out there to get us a bed in a good place, the next stop before Butch would be able to return home. (Our beloved roommate, Elvin [you can call me "E"] prayed for us and gave us solace that there is always a Ram hiding in the bush and that God is always there for us. I often wonder if that burning bush was always burning but Moses just wasn't open to see it until he needed to see it.) Anyway, this morning we got the final word that a bed magically became available where we had originally hoped and it would be available today at noon. So, Butch is in a brand new place and is ready to receive visitors and hear music. Last year at this time, Butch was released from the hospital on Blake's 14th birthday, September 13th. Butch was in much worse shape then. We are so grateful for every day and for Blake to be able to spend another birthday with his beloved Dad. The new place is only a mile from home so that's even better!

His phone number is 615-460-1356. His address if you want to send a card or visit is:

The Health Center at Richland Place
Room 209A
504 Elmington Avenue
Nashville, TN 37205

He is scheduled for a complete MRI next week so we can see the staus of the blood from the hemorrhage to be sure it is reabsorbing and to see how the tumour is doing. Once again, we can hope for little or no change in the tumour. I will write when I learn something. In the meantime, try to remember that what we want or what we think is best for us ain't necessarily so and that what is most important is often invisible to the naked eye. Your love and support sustains us every day.

Sinclair, Butch and Blake

[mandopete]

Sinclair,

You hang in there too! Butch is very lucky to have you on his side.

[Chris Biorkman]

Sinclair, my father was diagnosed with cancer a few months ago so I completely understand what you are going through. I will keep you and your family in my prayers.

[Scott Tichenor]

Update from Sinclair just now.

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Hey all,
I just wanted to let you know that Butch suffered a "significant" seizure yesterday. Right afterwards, as if by magic, Gene Ford, Rob Haines and John Hedgecoth, three of his loyal Nashville Mandolin Ensemble members, serenaded him for about an hour. It was fantastic, and as always, the best medicine. Butch's toes tapped and he smiled throughout. He has been carefully monitored for the last 24 hours and is doing well. I "slept" in the hospital room with him and he snored most of the night, always a good sign. He will not be actively doing therapy until they can further assess his condition but is being kept comfortable and stable in the meantime. We had a nice big breakfast this morning.

Those who have seen him over the last few months will remember the "Brow Period", the time he had a really whacky eyebrow that was going in all directions. We jokingly named him "The Brow" and joked how Hollywood agents, when looking for that perfect "character" cameo, would call on Butch as, "I need The Brow...get me The Brow!" It was trimmed during a haicut and we all knew it would grow back. Well, it hasn't so he is branching out in a new direction and has a really spiffy Van Dyke beard. He looks fantastic!
If you want to write him, his address is the same as it was last week (see below) but his room number has changed. He has moved into a more acute care floor of the facility. There was a doubt that insurance would cover it but I believe we are safe for a while, thank heavens!

The Healthcare Center at Richland Place
504 Elmington Avenue
Room 307
Nashville, TN 37205

His room phone number is 615-460-1348 but we cannot answer every phone call. If you'd like to send an e-mail, I will read it to him as we now have wireless in the room. Remember to send us your bracelet photos. The slideshow is wonderful, warming and a favorite thing for Butch to see. If you'd like to visit, that would be great, too!

Love to all of you, musical or not, who have carried us on your wings all these months,

Sinclair

[Ken Olmstead]

Butch is the main reason I play mandolin. I was at FIGA in Nashville (Franklin acually) about 8-10 years ago doing the tenor banjo thing (as 90% of those in attendence were) and who strolls on stage but Butch. I was flattened by his musicianship. The pieces he chose, his velvet touch on the instrument and how nice and approachable he was. If I remember right he had somebody on guitar and bass but I am having a hard time remembering now. He played mandolin and octave mandolin and blew me away with how many genres he packed into a set. He planted the seed! It was a couple of years later that I bought my first Kentucky mandolin. My first instruction materials was his 30 fiddle tunes book. I learned St. Annes, Fisher's Hornpipe and Whiskey Before breakfast in that order and of course many others. I still listen to the CDs from that book for his amazing touch which I have yet to duplicate once!

Butch, thanks for inspiring me to pick up the mandolin! It has brought me and my family great happiness! May GOD bless you and your family and I continue to pray for your complete healing! My thoughts are with you daily!

Ken

[Caleb]

Sinclair,

Thank you so much for another update. I think about Butch a lot and love to read the updates.

Butch,

You are in my prayers many days. Hang on tight to HOPE!

God bless you all.

~ Caleb Morris

[MandoJewell]

Butch, You've been such an inspiration to me over the past few years as I've strived to learn to play the mandolin. Your Appalachian Mandolin & Dulcimer CD is beautiful; it was my first introduction to your music. I've learned many songs from your '30 Fiddle Tunes for the Mandolin' CD and book, and love your tribute to Andrea Bocelli. I'm working on a couple of songs from that CD now.

After reading the posts here, it is clear you have touched so many more lives than you probably ever realized. My heart goes out to you and your family. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for inspiring me to play music. It is a gift I will treasure for the rest of my life.

~ Jan Jewell