JERRY FRIEDMAN

This one is for JERRY!

I received the below from my friend Will Lee in March. I knew that Jerry had medical 'issues' - but had no idea just how alarming the problem has become. I spoke with Jerry two nights ago, and while he is weak from the chemo, his mood is upbeat, and intends to fight this one all the way.

Jerry is a dear friend, one of the nicest people you could ever ever meet, and truly one of the most brilliant guitarists in the world. His playing has had a HUGE impact on my own style.

Thank you in advance for reading this.

JERRY FRIEDMAN One of New York's Finest NEEDS YOUR HELP

To his dear friends, loved ones, fellow players, and all others who may have enjoyed listening to his masterful guitar work on hit records such as: Midnight Train To Georgia (Gladys Knight) Your Love's A Supernatural Thing (Ben E. King) Swearin' To God (Frankie Valli) plus many Hit albums with diverse artists as Paul Simon, Brecker Bros., The Temptations, Bonnie Raitt, Herbie Mann, Ashford & Simpson, Gloria Gaynor and so many others. WE URGENTLY NEED YOUR HELP. It is critical that Jerry receive specialized medical treatment as soon as possible. Jerry has been facing huge medical challenges during the last 9 months. In June of 2008, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 rectal cancer. Because his illness was quite advanced at the time of diagnosis, it was necessary to act quickly. He immediately began chemotherapy with aggressive rounds of radiation treatments, until it was felt that Jerry was ready for surgery. These treatments were rigorous and draining, but Jerry proceeded valiantly. The surgery was deemed successful, however his body had been battered and recovery has been difficult. Still, Jerrys spirit somehow brought him through all that and he began chemotherapy again in January. Many of you (unfortunately) know from your own experiences, that these treatments can be horrific.

We consulted with a renowned doctor / pioneer and practitioner in the field of stem cell transplantation. After reviewing his records, he determined that Jerry's condition demanded immediate action if he were to survive the chemotherapy, as its toxic effects were becoming evident in Jerrys already weakened body. We are trying to arrange for Jerry to receive stem cell treatments in the next month. This is will necessitate Jerry going to a clinic in the Dominican Republic for a one-time infusion of stem cells. As Im sure you all know, it is not legal to do the treatments in the US at this time. The doctor also referred Jerry to to a clinic in Germany that has had an astounding record of fighting cancer and preventing its recurrence. Using both conventional and holistic methods the clinics survival statistics for Jerrys type / stage of cancer jump from 5-10% to 85%. Please be aware that we have done extensive research into the many philosophies and methods of cancer treatment since the day of diagnosis and look at all the literature and statistics with a critical eye. At this time we feel that this path offers Jerry the best possible chance to survive. The time factor is crucial. Recently, Jerry has been struggling financially, and is unable to work due to his illness. He is living very modestly in senior subsidized housing on an extremely tight budget. We are desperately appealing to you to contribute financially to help Jerry fight for his life. I know these are tough times for us all, but Jerry does not have the luxury to wait for better times. For all of us who love Jerry and who have been touched by the beautiful music he makes, this is a time to come forward. Please be as generous as you feel you are able. Any contribution, no matter the size, will be deeply appreciated.

Donations should be made out to: Jerry Friedman
and sent to: Susan Ulintz 51 Brookside Ave. Nyack NY 10960
Any further info or questions, call Susan: 845.358.4064 / 845.304.6566

or the quick & easy way - just click below:

Thank you very much

I have posted this on my FaceBook™ and MySpace™ profiles. It's immediately begun to get re-posted by numerous friends, and it got me thinking - if CBS/Sony can use 'viral advertising' to promote all sorts of what-have-you, why don't we use the power of "WEB 2" to get the word out, and to save the life of a wonderful person, incredible musician, and ...for those of you who've not had the pleasure of being in the same room with Jerry - trust me - you'd want to! [So if you're a 'Book or 'Space pal of mine - please repost the Note on 'Book, or my latest BLoG on 'Space].

With all my gratitude!
Elliott