Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Ed Bland (b. 1926), Composer of Jazz and Classical Music, Has Been Diagnosed With Stage 4 Metastatic Cancer And Has Begun Hospice Care

Ed Bland (b. 1926) 
has a website, 

Composer Regina Harris Baiocchi forwards this message, which was sent to family friends on Sunday, May 10, 2013 by Mary Batten-Bland, about her husband, the composer Ed Bland.  We extend our deepest sympathy to Ed Bland and his family:

Dear Friends --
This is not an easy email to write. Ed was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic cancer a week ago today and he is rapidly declining. We are all in shock. There was no symptom of any kind of early cancer, and Ed has been healthy right up until a few weeks before the onset of symptoms. The doctors suspect this cancer began in his liver but we'll never know for sure. By the time any symptoms appeared -- the major one being shortness of breath -- the cancer had spread to his chest, abdomen and possibly the bone. Chemo at this point would be pointless. We began hospice yesterday and are trying to keep him as comfortable as possible. Our children and close friends are here, and my family are bringing us dinners every day.  

Ed wants me to let you know that your friendship with us over the years has meant a lot to him and to me. He is approaching death as he approached life -- with calm, intelligence and acceptance of the cards he was dealt.

Take care of yourselves and your families,
Mary

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