We just received a note from Butch Baldassari, good friend to The Bluegrass Blog and anyone who loves bluegrass or mandolin music. Many of our readers may know that Butch, a prolific mandolin performer (Nashville Mandolin Ensemble), instructor and the head of the Sound Art Recordings label, was diagnosed earlier this year with a cancer in his brain, and has been undergoing treatment.

Here is his most recent update:

As of today, 7/24/07, I have completed my 6 weeks of Radiation and pill-based form of chemo Temodar. I was feeling pretty good until about Saturday July 14, then fatigue started to set in and I’ve been pretty tired for the last 10+days or so. My Docs think that the treatment went well and I have another MRI scheduled for AUG 20. After that there’s a chance I may have to take another round of Temodar only. Meanwhile I’m still teaching and playing with Nashville Mandolin Ensemble. I’ve been told it could take at least 6 weeks for my energy to come back ,which would make that date be sometime in September.

All in all, it’s just a great relief to have finished up with this phase of treatment - I‚m still taking energy-balancing treatments, acupuncture and an occasional massage. My macrobiotic diet is getting ready to enter a more “medicinal” phase with various teas and foods that will target the cancer. We will stay on this track at least until the next scan and then see what happens after that.

We extend our continued well wishes to Butch as he battles his illness.

Please also remember that Mandolin Cafe has set up a page to accept donations on Butch’s behalf. Even a small donation would be welcome, and a fine way to give back to someone who has given much to our music.