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" It was a total accident that I found out because I was on my
way to a gig in Panama City. I was driving along and literally, this
is no exaggeration, literally out of no-where my nose started running
like someone turned on a faucet, I felt this incredible nasty
headache, I felt like I was going to throw up and started getting
dizzy. I had to pull over on the side of the road and started thinking
there was no way I was going to be able to do this gig."
Mark had been performing for 15 years and this was to be the first
gig he missed. He called the client up and explained what was
happening and proceeded to turn around and head home. Over the next
few days Mark was to undergo several tests all of which didn't prove
conclusive. Mark didn't fit a cancer patient profile, he never smoked,
and was in good health otherwise. But a biopsy revealed it was indeed
cancer.
While the doctors took a very aggressive treatment path, which
ultimately cured this cancer, Mark was struggling in real life. The
medical costs were staggering. Mark's cancer was so rare there were no
support groups for it the way there is for other forms of cancer.
Mark's wife at the time left him because she had been through a
relative dying of cancer and couldn't handle it again. The aggressive
radiation treatments twice a day too a toll on him and he lost over 80
lbs.
"I think I would have rather tried Nutri-Systems or something.
This isn't a diet plan I would recommend to anyone! You know, this was
a very dark time in my life. I almost committed suicide. My wife left
me, all the so-called friends I had in the music business were
no-where to be found. All of the so-called organizations that help
cancer patients, including the American Cancer Society, gave me no
help. I tried the local chapters and the national chapters and got
nothing even though I had raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for
these guys doing there "walks for life" and other events.
There were no support
groups for my cancer because it was so rare."
But Mark's faith in himself and his belief that God stood by him
carried him through these dark times. He obviously didn't commit
suicide, in fact, he thrived and got better. The doctors had told him
that the were pretty sure they could save his speaking voice but where
in doubts about his ever singing again. He worked through it all with
his inborn natural drive.
" I can see now that it was a blessing in a way. Now I can be
the person, and have been, that I didn't have when I was sick."
You see Mark has formed his own foundation to help other cancer
patients, to be there for them the way he wished someone would have
been there for him in his dark times. His foundation is called "No
Strings Attached", and it is funded at this point
entirely by Mark himself through his tips, CD sales and his own
generosity.
"100% of the money goes to anyone who is currently a cancer
patient and needs medication, or money for transportation or needs a
sitter so they can make their treatments. Whatever it takes to get
them to their treatments, because that's what saved my life. The only
verification we need for the foundation is a letter from an oncologist
or something to prove you are undergoing treatment, and whatever I
have in the coffer is yours. The play on words, "No Strings"
is because this is a grant, not a loan."
After living through what all he has, Mark makes a point of giving of
himself to others to keep them from feeling the despair he did. To
keep them going for their treatments to fight cancer and hopefully win
the battle. When there are clouds in their lives and bad news and
struggles abound, Mark is their silver lining.
Go to www.myspace.com/70srewind
to find out more about Mark Anthony Roman and his good work and good
music. You'll be glad you did! |
