Singing his way back to health

Towards the end of 2001, John Leavy started to feel that there was something not quite right happening to him. He would wake up in the middle of the night with what he terms "a funny sensation in my head". He also recalls getting one "terrible" headache. The sensations would occur only at night and, while he didn't know it at the time, he was having seizures caused by a tumour in his brain. He continued to live his life, going to work every day, until one night the seizures took on a more sinister dimension. "I used to think they were nightmares. On the night of 8th or 9th of January 2002, I had just gone to bed. I was only in bed for half an hour, maybe an hour, and I got one of those seizures again. "Next thing I remember my wife waking me up, calling me, calling me. She asked me was I okay. She had seen me having a seizure previously. I remember her calling, she saw I needed help. The ambulance was called and they brought me to hospital," he recalls. John Leavy was in his mid-30s at the time, leading a normal life in his home town of Athboy. Married with a young family. Tumours and seizures were the kind of things that happened to other people. The events of that January night sparked a sometimes dramatic, sometimes emotionally intense few years for the Athboy man. His cause also galvanised a community to come together in a unique show of solidarity and affection. These days, John Leavy feels well. He feels as strong and as vigorous as any relatively young man in his early 40s should do. The operation to remove the tumour proved a success. He points out, as a qualification, that he still has to have regular MRI scans and his doctors have advised that he still needs to keep a close watch on his health. Overall, though, life is good again. He appreciates every day with his children, Aimee, Ethan and John junior as well as family and friends and all the people who are close to him. Not only that, but he is near to achieving a cherished ambition - to bring out his own CD. The brother of well-known singer Matt Leavy, music has always played a big part in John's life. He simply loves to sing and on the walls of his house are photographs of him with American singers/songwriters Buck Owens, Johnny Cash and Steve Earle. There are other snaps in his collection of him with Kris Kristofferson, Tammy Wynette and Daniel O'Donnell. They were taken backstage at various concerts and events. Legends For years, John would accompany Matt to gigs and there was usually opportunities to meet some of the legends of the country music scene; legends that the brothers listened to growing up in Athboy. John calls his CD 'A Song For All' and he now just has to apply the finishing touches to the piece of work. The record is an eclectic collection of numbers from singers and songwriters he admires. Included in the play list are Frank Sinatra's 'The Summer Wind,' Louis Armstrong's 'What a Wonderful World' and Pete Seeger's 'Pay Me My Money Down'. The recordings were made in the local Eagle's Nest Studio and involved Charlie Arkins, formally of the Cotton Mill Boys, who now lives in Athboy. The producer is Charlie's son, David Arkins, while a coterie of local musicians from the area also contributed. It was music that helped Leavy through some of the dark days and there were quite a few of those to contend with as he battled with his illness. For months after he had been first brought to hospital, it wasn't clear what was causing the seizures that afflicted him on a regular basis. He took his prescribed medicine but nothing seemed to work. It was only when a neurologist in a Dublin Hospital carried out some tests that the tumour was detected. Yet, even in that grim discovery, other complications came into focus. "Even when it was discovered it was a brain tumour I had, the surgeon was reluctant to operate because there was a cerebral artery near the tumour and if that was damaged, I could have been left paralysed," he recalls. It was then that fate intervened. Around that time, a friend of John's read an article about how an American-based surgeon, Dr Takanori Fukushima, had carried out a life-saving operation on a girl. Dr Fukushima was contacted and he referred Leavy's case to Dr Allan Friedman of Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, a renowned nurosurgeon. Dr Friedman later stepped into the limelight when he operated on Edward Kennedy when the Democratic Senator for Massachusetts also had to undergo brain surgery in the summer of 2008. Back in 2003, it became clear the John Leavy would need the expertise of what was regarded as one of the best nerosurgeons in the world. There was one problem - it would cost US$90,000. Moves were made to raise the money required and what followed was one of the most successful fundraising exercises in years. People from Athboy and far beyond got behind the project. Personalities from the music business such as Daniel O'Donnell, Mary Duff, Mick Flavin, Jimmy Buckley, Declan Nerney and Joe Murray made appearances and sang songs. A unique gig in Athboy Church was one of the highlights of the campaign. The efforts people put in and the abundant generosity of people, combined with John Leavy's popularity, helped to ensure that up to €180,000 was collected. He is still astonished and grateful, beyond words, for the level of support his cause received. "There was €20 charge at the door into a gig at some event and, I believe, people were just throwing €50 notes into the box, that's how good people were," he recalls. Humbled "It makes me feel humbled, I want to get down at their feet and thank them all. All I can say is that I wouldn't be here but for them now, I'm so thankful, the generosity of people was unbelievable. I would also like to thank the doctors and staff in places like Duke University Hospital and Beaumont Hospital. Any remaining money in the fund is there for my medical needs only," he says. Leavy describes Friedman as "a lovely man" who was friendly and courteous and who addressed him as "the singing Irishman". The operation was in early 2004 and took four hours to complete. Since then, there have been no more seizures, although the week, and months following such a major operation proved far from easy. His sight was affected for about six months and there was considerable discomfort. The Athboy singer says it's so important to have a bright outlook when ill and believes that he will continue his recuperation. His doctors have told him he is in remission. One of the fallouts from his illness has been a strengthening of his spirituality and his belief in God. He has, in particular, developed a strong faith in Padre Pio and the healing powers of the Italian saint. Last August, along with his friend Bill McLoughlin, Leavy travelled to Padre Pio's church, Santa Maria della Grazie, in San Giovanni Rotondo in Italy. He describes it as a "wonderful experience" and recalls how he met a priest who knew Padre Pio and who blessed him with the saint's mitten. While anxious not to come across as obsessed with religion, he feels his experience of the last few years has nonetheless firmed up his faith. John Leavy's CD should be out in the shops in the next month or two with an official launch also planned. When it does come out, it will be a another step back to full health for an Athboy man who has endured more then most over the past nine years.