Oh Pam! 
Only today I was telling a dear friend about this community, the amazing people in here and especially about you! I’m so sorry. You have been and continue to be such an inspiration, especially for us bass gals. It was so important for me to see you here when I first started out. And seeing your smile in the video you shared is another beautiful gift to us. Sending you and Sara much, much love.
15 Likes
Love to you and Sara @PamPurrs. You are radiant.
13 Likes
You have truly been an inspiration to your fellow B2B students. Thanks for the update and prayers are coming your way.
13 Likes
@PamPurrs, you were one of the first people to talk to me here on BassBuzz, and I still have the pedal you pay-it-forward’ed to me. I’ve not commented much on your struggles… um… I’ve lost too many people to cancer, so it’s… well, this isn’t about me. I hope you know that while I’ve been verbally (forum-ally?) silent, my thoughts have been with you from day one. You have gone through shit after shit after shit and you have taken it all with courage and strength that the incredible Hulk has to admire.
You are, undoubtedly, pretty god-damned “bad ass”.
15 Likes
Hey @PamPurrs , made you a video message -
Thank you for being you, and being a part of this community! You’ve touched so many people with your kindness, humor, and general badassery.
44 Likes
Thank you @JoshFossgreen for that thoughtful video.
And thank you @everyone for the kind and caring comments and well wishes.
Today is the second round of chemo in a series of 4 infusions to try to slow down or stop this last cancer. I’m still fighting it mentally, as best I can. I’m a firm believer in mind over body, and also the power of positive thoughts and prayers, of which I have gotten in abundance from you.
Thank you, thank you thank you. Your love is uplifting.
41 Likes
G_dd_mnit.
A couple years ago I was listening to a story on The Moth Radio Hour, and the person was talking about the loss of a loved one who had been ill. The line that stuck out most to me was, “Somebody once told me, and I wish to God that I had got it sooner, that there is no such thing as a dying person. There are living people and there are dead people, and as long as somebody is alive, as long as they have any sentience or sense about them you have to expect and allow them to be who they have always been. It’s never more important than at the end of somebody’s life that they get to be who they are and who they always were.”
You are a badass, you’ve always been a badass, and you will continue to be a badass into eternity.
23 Likes
Praying for you Pam! Godspeed!
13 Likes
Damn, Pam, that hit me real hard. It’s incredible how strong you and your loved ones are. You rule, cancer can suck it!
9 Likes
hoping for a speedy recovery!!
7 Likes
My thoughts are with you @PamPurrs ! Hang in there!
7 Likes
First time poster long time lurker….
Pam I am so sorry you are and have been living through so much cancer. From a stage 3 lymphoma survivor - FUCK CANCER. You are a warrior and if anyone can beat this round it’s you. I haven’t been here long but the one thing I seem to have learned is you are loved and respected here. You will be in my thoughts now and especially in June when I am lucky enough to do my 8th ride to conquer cancer and I need hope and strength to finish. Thank you so much for sharing. YOU GOT THIS PAM! FUCK CANCER. 
13 Likes
Tight hug Pam!
9 Likes
Pam, want you to know I am praying for you and like the others, pullin’ for a miracle because they certainly DO happen. I started on bass about a year ago and I remember you responding to my introduction! I am on routine MRI follow ups for (brain) cancer so I’ve done some thinking on the after-life and I always imagine myself shredding it there! Oh and playing piano too. Love and prayers to you and your family.
10 Likes
I am kind of embarrassed that I just saw this. you have always been a fighter and an inspiration to many of us, including me. and as long as we can hear from you than absolutely nothing has changed in my book. we all got your back 
10 Likes
I can only send you virtual hugs Pam, and hope for the best.
Much love
x
8 Likes
Pam,
I haven’t logged in for a while, but today I was in the forum checking things out. Stay strong, and stay positive Pam. You’ve just got to take things one day at a time.
Sending healing vibes from Colorado!
8 Likes
you have profoundly effected very many people. I am grateful.
9 Likes
Wow! Just wow! I hadn’t heard any of this… so sorry Pam… as others have said, thanks for welcoming me into the fold last yr when I joined.
I have lost family and friends to cancer, I know the fight you’re in. Kick cancers’ ass! Godspeed Pam.
8 Likes
The recent thread that was started with the “Stand by Me” covers brought tears to my eyes and inspired me to post an update. I can’t believe the love I feel from this group!
Last Thursday I had an MRI and CT scan to see how this latest cancer (number 3), has responded to the chemotherapy. The following day I met with the surgeon who had removed my tongue and larynx in November 2022, and he stated that the report shows part of the tumor (the part that was creeping into my right lung) had shrunk considerably, while the portion on the floor of my mouth had grown. However, the MRI showed that the center of the tumor had died, despite the fact that the entire mass had grown. Being that he is not trained specifically in oncology, he didn’t know what to make of it, and set me up to meet with my oncologist next Thursday at which time I will get a better idea of what is going on.
Sara asked how long he thinks I have, and he replied “about a year’, which I take with a grain of salt. It could be a couple months, a year, or ten years. Meanwhile I will keep fighting with chemo and possibly even radiation.
On another note….
Since I was diagnosed with cancer for the 3rd time last December I have been moping around not doing much of anything. I sold my Yammie BB735 and all my amps and recording gear, along with my electric upright bass, acoustic upright bass, and keyboard. I had basically dropped out of music and out of life in general.
Then I happened to watch the movie “Shawshank Redemption” (for the umpteenth time) and suddenly those words in the movie hit me like a ton of bricks.
Get busy living, or get busy dying
I’ve lost a lot of body strength in the past year, so its hard for me to handle a heavy bass slung over my shoulder or a huge heavy double bass, so I went a different route. I am now playing cello, an instrument that I love dearly. It’s tuned in 5ths instead of 4ths like the bass, but it’s not difficult to adapt. And I can play from the same bass clef, so reading music will not be a problem. I found a very capable online instructor (nothing like Josh) and have signed up for that course. So far, it’s going well. I expect in about a month I should be able to churn out some songs. Since I can no longer speak, the cello will be my voice.
66 Likes