Wayne Youngblood Ministries

I'm home after another week of tests, IV's and other assorted fun things. A bit of rough news, there is evidence of cancer in the liver. If it was anyone but me that would be really bad news, but we will be alright.

There is also some kind of blockage in the bile duct, which could be a tumor, or a gallstone. That is probably the reason I can't keep anything down.

BUT...They can fix that. The cancer in the liver is a little more challenging, but then again the neck cancer is wrapped aroung my arteries in the neck so I guess it doesn't reall matter that much. I'm just going to enjoy each day and play as much as I can.

I'm not sure if I told you or not but I shared with my doctor that I felt much better when I am performing and he told me that it is because my body releases chemicals that diminish the pain and give me a healthier feeling, he also said that releasing those chemicals actually help the healing process!!!

People constantly ask me why I don't work more here in the Villages? I really don't know? I do know that we are busy everytime I work Bourbon St. I have NEVER had a dead night at Bourbon St. I have been there when there was only a handfull of people at 9:pm but never when I'm there. I also know that everytime I have worked in the Villages I have drawn MORE people than the people I'm working with. I think maybe people are hessitant to book me because of my illness, that's sad. As many duo's as there are around here I should be working all the time. The worst thing that could happen would be that I got sick and failed to show up (which has never happened) in that event the public would certainly understand and recognize that someone was kind enough to let me work at a time like this. I do know that many entertainers work drunk, I know one of the singers got drunk and fell down in at least two venues I saw one of those times and the other time was on the stage, that person is still working on a regular basis. I don't drink, they show up late, I have never been late, failed to show up or cancelled at the last minute. I cancelld one time in 2007 because I had to have a lung removed 2/12/07 and the gig was 2/14/07 I gave plenty of notice and nobody was hurt at all. Actually, I worked Bourbon St 2/11/07 had my lung removed 2/12/07 and worked back at Bourbon St 2/2/18/07!!!! I missed one other gig on Italian night in front of Mc Call's. I was there and ready to play but my "partner" hired someone else so I wasn't allowed to play, and I was never paid.

A lot of the entertainers "bad mouth" the Villages, I LOVE the Villages!!!! I promote the Villages and have been the cause of several people to buy homes here. The people who have used me seem to be very happy with me. I know people have been very appreciative of Albert and Sue at Bourbon St. My friends have been very loyal to him.

My friends I don't know why I'm not working in the Villages but please don't worry about it...I assure you I don't! PLEASE don't give anyone in the entertainment department any grief. I am so grateful for your interest but I know there isn't anything sinister going on and the folks I know at the entertainment office are great. Actually I think I have some good friends there. I know if it was up to them I would be working here every week with three or four different partners. I'm sure it's all for a good reason.

As I said people asked me all the time "what can I do" the answer is easy...pray that doors will open. I know you can't all go out of town to see my concerts but that's where I make my living. I make 5 times as much money in concert than I do when I work the Villages plus cd and dvd sales.

Besides the concerts are usually an hour and a half if I'm alone and less than that if I'm on a show with somone else, as you all know, I don't take breaks so I'm always doing a 4-5 hour long set

Sooooo if you would like to see me at your local church we can get that done!! My Brother has move here from California and is booking my concerts now.

Nobody is booking me here at churches either?? I think It's funny I have to leave town to do a concert!! So the concerts are really what I need, but I would enjoy seeing you here more often if I had the dates.

On a postive note, I weighed in at 188......I haven't been that size since High School!!!! I have to admit I like wearing these smaller clothes!!!! We also have some issues from the eye surgery but I every faith that they will dissappear.

Some of you have asked me how successful the benefit was...the truth is I don't know yet, accounting takes time but I'm sure we will know soon.

The DVD will be finish as soon as I have time to finish the editing. We didn't have very many orders for the dvd. If you would like one let me know. The first one is $25 and more than one is $20 each I pay the shipping just let me know if you want something. I'm also getting rave reviews on the "Live" cd's.

I don't think they are very good but people just love them? They are $15 for one or $10 each for more than one.

I hate to be a salesman but .............right now I am only working Mondays at Bourbon St in the Villages so I need to sell something!! LOL!!!

I'm sorry this has taken so long but I have been challenged. I went to Moffitt last Wednesday and had eye surgery Thursday, and I've been sick every since.

I haven't been able to see well enough to write an update. I've been on an increased amount of pain medicine which has upset my intestinal tract, and if that wasn't enough I caught a virus that's given me fever and the inability to keep foods down. That's why you haven't heard from me till now.

The eye surgery Thursday didn't go as well as the left eye surgery. There are comlpications in both eyes and I may have to go on glaucoma treatment for a while and I will have to have buy glasses after all, but it's better than being blind! They were hoping for complete restoration but I'm content with the results and I'm sure they will heal eventually.

As for the cancer....the news isn't as positive. I saw my surgeon Wednesday. The tumors are growing and she doesn't think surgery is an option and she is afraid to put me back on chemotherapy. She said it may irritate the cancer and make it more aggressive. It's aggressive enough now.

The pain is increasing now and all I can do is nutrition, prayer and pain management. The doctors say there is nothing to do and except for a miracle...well you know what that means.

I want to go to Boston to see the doctor that did my surgery in 2006 when they said there was no hope. He did a great job and the cancer hasn't come back in my tongue where he took the tumor out.

I can't fly commercial, a car trip would be too much for me right now, but I think I can get a private flight from an organization that helps cancer patients.

Then all I have to do is get money for tests. Thanks to some really good friends we had a fund raiser the 18th at Bourbon St. We were shooting for $5,000.00 for tests, and we came up to a little less than $2,000.00.

Thanks to Albert and Sue Cheek (the owners of Bourbon St ) They put in enough money to bring us to $2,000.00.

God will provide the money. I just don't know if the doctor in Boston can do anything or not?

The benefit was such a heart warming night, Scott Callihan did video and we will edit it and it will be for sale at some point.

What a night to remember, it was an allstar review with too many people to name!!!

Thank you all for coming, giving, and supporting me. I am so blessed to have you all.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever have so many performers and friends come together like that for me. My heart hurts sometimes but most of the time it is full of love for all these people. My family and friends have been so faithful and it seems their giving never ends.

I worked Sunday, Monday, and Thursday after my surgery, all three nights were good, even Thursday night in the cold, I thank you for that. It's the best thing for me to work and without your support, nobody would let me. I was told they closed early Tuesday and Wednesday but not when we were there!!

I feel better than I have for several days and I will be at Bourbon St tomorrow night.

Please come to see me. We don't know how much time we have. If there's something you want to say, or do, don't put it off. If I can do anything to help you don't hesitate to tell me.

I had my first eye surgery this morning. The lens was removed and an artificial one put in place.

I am working at Bourbon St tonight...come and see, it might be fun watching me struggle!!

Thank you all for your prayers and holding my hand through these trials.

I go back to my cancer surgeon next wednesday, and have surgery on the other eye next thursday.

Thanks to a very generous gift, I have the money to fix my eyes as long as there are no complications.

The first surgery, left eye, is on January 12th and the second, right eye, is on January 22nd.

On the cancer scene, they took me off Chemotherapy a couple of weeks ago, because the tumors were still growing. After 18 rounds of Chemo they think the cancer has become resistant to the drugs? Unfortunately, since coming off chemo, the tumors are growing faster. The pain is much worse.

They are going to do scans in a couple of weeks, and they may put me back on chemo, or they may just give up.

In 2006 five doctors here gave up and I went to Boston and Dr. Zeitels cut out the cancer out of my tongue and it hasn't come back. he's one of the best in the world!

He will see me without charge, but he has to have his own scans which are very expensive. I can't fly commercial because of infection but there is an organization that flys people like me around, but I don't know if they go that far? I'll find out.

Some friends are having a benefit for me on Sunday January 18th at Bourbon St to help with my eyes, but I guess now it will be for my Boston trip and other expenses. This cancer thing is VERY expensive!!

There will be dozens of entertainers there to help so it will be a fantastic time.

Put it on your calander and don't miss it!! I'm going to try to get Scott Callihan to video the event so we can all buy a DVD to remember the experience. Most of the good entertainers in the area will perform so it will be a great DVD!! What a great fellowship!!

By the way, They included my in the newsletter for Moffitt Cancer Center, and The American Cancer Society has me in their new brochure.