[Harp-L] Tulsa Read Hit With Mouth Cancer

[TUL1RD@xxxxxxx]

Recently I had three operations to have part of the tip of my tongue  
removed; had my left jaw cut and drained; and to have a Cancer tumor  removed from 
the inner left side wall of my cheek. I have lost some feeling now  in my upper 
left side of my lip. I will be going into the hospital the day  before 
Thanksgiving to have an two more operations. One on my left inner cheek  wall the has 
nests of Cancer cells throughout it, plus another  operation on my top lip 
that also has Cancer in it. I am a non-smoker, and the  doctors have no idea if 
this has anything to do with playing the harmonica for  38 years. These 
operations will not only damage my nerves and lip muscles  to play harmonica good, 
but there is no guarantee that the doctor will be able  to remove all of the 
Cancer cells. I was told that if any of  the Cancer cells work their way to my 
brain, it would be fatal. I have  canceled all of my harmonica seminars, 
private lessons and concerts, so I will  not have any income coming in for a long 
time. This is devastating news for me,  since this has been my job for 35 years 
as a full-time  professional harmonica instructor and performer. I'm asking my 
harmonica  friends, students and my colleagues to pray for me. Thank  you.    
          Tulsa Read