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Musician dDub (Derek Browne) has end stage cancer and needs help

  • Thank you....

      23 February 2020
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    Firstly a note from Sue, Veronica's and Derek's friend, and the administrator of this page, i.e. the person who should have been keeping you updated….. My apologies for not doing this, especially after you have all donated so generously.

    For those of you who don't already know, our lovely Derek died peacefully at 7.17pm on 23rd April 2019. His funeral was held at Piha on the 26th April. It was a truly special event, and a very emotional tribute to him.

    Ten months have now passed and the Give a Little page is due to close tomorrow. Before it does, Veronica would like to acknowledge the incredible help they received and here are a few words from her:

    The Give a Little Page was one of the brighter parts of our days while Derek was so sick. At the end of each day, we would go through the donations and comments together and it was such a blessing to see Derek smile and have moments of happiness through the kindness of friends, family and his music fans.

    I know he is in a happier place now after the 8 months of suffering and I want to thank you for smoothing that path for him.

    The album he recorded in the last weeks of his life was released on the 16th of July 2019, and I wanted to send you a copy of this special song to thank you personally. Here is 'Dreaming House'.

    Much love,

    Veronica.

    https://music.apple.com/nz/album/dreaming-house/1468999133…

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  • Derek home again after 10 days in Hospice.

      10 March 2019
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    Hi lovely friends and family. After 10 days in the hospice Derek can finally come home. Good food, lots of love and care from the hospice team and good pain management have meant he is strong enough again to be cared for at home.

    Yesterday we had a very frank discussion with the oncologist and hospice Dr.

    There are two stark choices.

    1. Receive Chemotherapy; This will knock him back again and depending on his marrow reserves he will either recover and have less pain and extended life (months) or won't recover and will be in the same or worse shape he is in now.

    It also takes 3 cycles (over 2 months) to see if it is working 😞

    If it does work and he gets stronger then we will go for immunotherapy in Japan.

    2. Let the disease run its course. The time frame for this is unknown (again in terms of months), he will have good days and bad days and as time goes on the bad days will outnumber the good ones.

    She did say we can wait another two weeks before making the decision as he is stable again now.

    So I asked D what the most important use of his limited energy was. It was really clear.

    Derek's main goal is to record his remaining acoustic songs. He has been working on these for the past 3 years and they were all ready to go before he got ill.

    His producer has said he is ready to go when Derek is, so we are hoping and praying that his present improvement will continue so he has enough energy to record them within the next two weeks.

    I know that many many of his friends and extended family would love to visit, for now it just isn't possible and I am sorry.

    Tomorrow he is coming home and we are going to have some precious time with our cats and the garden.

    We are still adding in alternative treatments and still hoping and praying for recovery.

    Much love Vxx

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    • 13/03/2019 by Christian

      Hey Derek,

      Devastated to hear you news from Brentos. Have sent you an email to the DDub email address on the website.... Love you brother and wishing you strength in your treatment and recovery!

      Much love

      Christian

    • 16/04/2019 by Penny

      Hey Derek, Veronica,

      Penny here, I was one of your first dDub fans and used to help you by posting up your promo material in Napier.

      I know how hard this can be after my own experience (lost my former partner to cancer in 2013), but stay strong, believe in life after this (there is), and if you haven't already contacted her for healing, Jeanette Wilson is amazing. Her contact details are: jeanette@jeanettewilson.com The phone number I have for her is 027 6802701. She could be able to help both of you and certainly has helped me.

      Brightest blessings to you my friends, much love and healing on all levels to you both, and let me tell you that 'No Smoke' is, was, and always will be one of my favourite songs of all time, whatever happens Derek, you are leaving your mark in our worlds through your music. Love, Light and Peace, Penny Geddis xxx