Michael Anthony Jams With Cancer Patient

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  • Matt White
    • Jun 2004
    • 20569

    Michael Anthony Jams With Cancer Patient



    Cancer patient jams with Van Halen guitarist
    By Shannon Gauthier, Correspondent

    SAN DIMAS -- The pain and fear that follows the reality of cancer was forgotten for a day last week when 18-year-old Brian Mammen had a wish granted.

    Michael Anthony, of the band Van Halen, visited Mammen's San Dimas home bearing gifts, music and laughter. The May 25 jam session began with Mammen playing the lead song from the animated television series, "King of the Hill."

    And it ended with a five-person band filled with Mammen's friends and Anthony playing "Panama," and other oldies but goodies.

    "It is times like this that cause people to reach out and really touch each other, and it makes me feel so wonderful," Mammen's grandmother Sandra Mammen said as she tearfully watched her family enjoying themselves. Anthony, whose visit was arranged through Helping Heroes Productions, an Azusa-based nonprofit organization, said he was happy to jam with Mammen.

    "I've been blessed with great kids and career, and if I can give anything back I am glad to do it," he said.

    It has been a rough few years, Mammen's friends and family said. "He is facing at a young age what most people never have to experience," said Patricia Toepke, one of Brian's teachers at South Hills High School in Covina.

    At 15, Brian Mammen learned he had osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer, in his right leg. After several chemotherapy treatments and painful surgery, Brian finished his freshman year missing his knee and half his femur, but with a body free of cancer.

    Regular three-month checkups followed these surgeries, and not long after the initial treatment, cancer was found in his lungs and again in the right leg, forcing the doctors to remove the entire femur.

    The surgery gave him two years cancer-free.

    If cancer patients make it to two years cancer clear, the odds are definitely in their favor, said family friend Amy Turner. So after two years of testing and coming out clean, Mammen and his family approached his two-year anniversary in March with hope, only to be disappointed.

    "The one time I was not thinking the worst, the worst came," Brian's mother, Judi Mammen said, "We were devastated."

    Cancer was found in his shoulder, and that demanded immediate attention. In the last two months, Mammen has received three rounds of chemotherapy, finishing up at City of Hope in Duarte on May 23.

    He is eager to gain strength for his upcoming activities.

    The excitement began with his visit with Anthony, on Saturday he will attend the senior prom and then his high school graduation on June 15. As a developing guitar player, Mammen appreciated the signature guitar strap, CD, and specialized Van Halen picks that Anthony gave him -- not to mention the hourlong jam session.

    But the coolest part is the signed bass guitar that will be sold at a June 11 auction and dinner. The event will be held at St. John Lutheran Church, in West Covina, to raise funds and support for the Mammen family, who have a long road of healing ahead of them. After graduation, Mammen will have more chemo treatment, another surgery to remove the cancer from his shoulder and will receive yet another prosthetic bone.


    Hmmmm....

    My respect for the guy just went up.....

    GOOD WORK MIKE
  • bueno bob
    DIAMOND STATUS
    • Jul 2004
    • 22951

    #2
    Now that's cool.

    I could make a REALLY BAD Eddie joke here, but I won't.

    Props, Mike.
    Twistin' by the pool.

    Comment

    • DavidLeeNatra
      TOASTMASTER GENERAL
      • Jan 2004
      • 10715

      #3
      that's a good one...but nothing new...bass player is used to play with cancer patients...
      Roth Army Icon
      First official owner of ADKOT (Deluxe Version)

      Comment

      • DavidLeeNatra
        TOASTMASTER GENERAL
        • Jan 2004
        • 10715

        #4
        Originally posted by bueno bob
        Now that's cool.

        I could make a REALLY BAD Eddie joke here, but I won't.

        Props, Mike.
        :D
        Roth Army Icon
        First official owner of ADKOT (Deluxe Version)

        Comment

        • bueno bob
          DIAMOND STATUS
          • Jul 2004
          • 22951

          #5
          Originally posted by DavidLeeNatra
          that's a good one...but nothing new...bass player is used to play with cancer patients...

          GOD DAMNIT, NATRA!!

          I was TRYING to avoid Eddie jokes!

          :D
          Twistin' by the pool.

          Comment

          • DavidLeeNatra
            TOASTMASTER GENERAL
            • Jan 2004
            • 10715

            #6
            Originally posted by bueno bob
            GOD DAMNIT, NATRA!!

            I was TRYING to avoid Eddie jokes!

            :D
            this is not the linx...keep 'em coming! :D
            Roth Army Icon
            First official owner of ADKOT (Deluxe Version)

            Comment

            • bueno bob
              DIAMOND STATUS
              • Jul 2004
              • 22951

              #7
              Originally posted by DavidLeeNatra
              this is not the linx...keep 'em coming! :D
              Heheheh...you took mine...
              Twistin' by the pool.

              Comment

              • bueno bob
                DIAMOND STATUS
                • Jul 2004
                • 22951

                #8
                MICHAEL ANTHONY JAMS WITH EDWARD VAN HALEN'S TONGUE; NEWS AT 11:00...
                Twistin' by the pool.

                Comment

                • Matt White
                  • Jun 2004
                  • 20569

                  #9



                  Seems like MIKE might be a regular guy after all..........

                  Comment

                  • POJO_Risin
                    Roth Army Caesar
                    • Mar 2003
                    • 40648

                    #10
                    Well...I have a ton of thoughts on MA...

                    but will give him his props for doing that...

                    a prosthetic bone...that's gotta fucking suck...
                    "Van Halen was one of the most hallelujah, tailgate, backyard, BBQ, arrive four hours early to the gig just for the parking lot bands. And still to this day is. It's an attitude. I think it's a spirit more than anything else is."

                    Comment

                    • sadaist
                      TOASTMASTER GENERAL
                      • Jul 2004
                      • 11625

                      #11
                      Good for Mike. Cancer sucks. I know. Dave has done some stuff like this too. Ashley Abernathy. You know this kid just had the time of his life. He deserves it after what he has been through....and still faces.
                      “Great losses often bring only a numb shock. To truly plunge a victim into misery, you must overwhelm him with many small sufferings.”

                      Comment

                      • Flash Bastard

                        #12
                        Good ol' Mikey. Probably the most genuine and approachable of the 4.

                        If he only had a spine......

                        Comment

                        • Don Corleone
                          Veteran
                          • May 2004
                          • 2084

                          #13
                          You've got to give Mike some respect for this.
                          Roth Army Militia

                          Comment

                          • Terry
                            DIAMOND STATUS
                            • Jan 2004
                            • 12123

                            #14
                            Agreed. MA deserves a nod for this, although charitable acts should be performed for the sake of doing them, not as a tool of self-promotion.

                            Plus, I'm pretty sure the kid wanted to jam with Eddie, and just made the best of it when the bass player showed up.
                            Scramby eggs and bacon.

                            Comment

                            • The_KiD
                              Commando
                              • Jun 2005
                              • 1041

                              #15
                              Nice move on Mike's behalf...

                              KiD

                              Comment

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