Dr. Tom Bibey - Health Update

Dr. Bibey Playing Gig

at

Darin & Brooke Aldridge Festival

If you've been reading this blog for several years, you know that Dr. Tom Bibey is our long standing friend. We first met on line about four years ago or so, and after a good deal of dancing around like two new friends at the prom, we exchanged e-mail addresses and arranged to meet. We first got together at Lorraine Jordan's festival in Burlington, NC and have visited back and forth regularly since then, on line and face-to-face.  Last year we induced him and his wife (known as Marfar in his blog) to come to Strawberry Park in Preston, CT, at least partly because his young proteges Darin & Brooke Aldridge were performing in the northeast for the first time. Turned out that the first copy of his book, The Mandolin Case, was delivered to him there, so great excitement ensued. He found new friends, the way he does everywhere he goes, and discovered that Yankees jam “just like we do back in North Carolina.” Later in the summer, he and Marfar came to Columbus, OH for Musicians Against Childhood Cancer (MACC) where he had his first booth selling his book and making new friends. In short, Dr. B has been a good and dear friend to us.

Dr. B Opens First Copy 

of

The Mandolin Case

 

Recently, after becoming disoriented, and having associated speech problems, Dr. B has been diagnosed as having a brain tumor. We talked on Monday morning, and he expressed deep conviction that the cancer he's been afflicted with is highly treatable with chemo therapy and radiation. He expressed  optimism that his faith, family, friends, music, and the bluegrass world will support and nurture him through his current adversity. His love of his immediate and extended support group and their concern, prayers, and help for him buoy him up and carry him along in their arms. He says that he's well provided for and no one needs to worry about raising money for him. He says, if his readers and friends want to make a contribution, he'd like to see funds funneled through The MACC. Checks can be sent to: Musicians Against Childhood Cancer, 1434 S. 3B's & K Rd., Galena, OH 43021. This contribution would go directly to supporting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN where promoter Darrell Adkins' and his wife Phyllis's daughter Mandy died of a virulent brain stem tumor about ten years ago.

Dr. B will be unable to work on regular updates of his blog, which can be found here. He may, depending on how he progresses, post occasional health updates through his Facebook page. Otherwise, he believes he needs to focus on himself just now rather than his outreach to others. He mentioned that the recent strong review of The Mandolin Case written by Chris Stuart in Bluegrass Unlimited lifted his spirits, and he's always keen to hear from readers and friends. If you haven't yet read his book The Mandolin Case, you can order it through the link on the side of this notice. Meanwhile, keep Dr. Tom Bibey in your thoughts and prayers as he fights the good fight.