Jack Eadon is an incredible individual with an amazing story.
Since August, 2010, his fifth and final surgery, Jack has been unable to swallow and is tube fed. Diagnosed at an early age in 1978, Jack had 4 surgeries before his epidermoid brain tumor was completely excised in 2010. His battle with the epidermoid brain tumor has been challenging, yet he remains determined to live life as normally as he can. And he does just that!
He’s a man of many talents from his younger days when he led his own band, a rock ‘n’ roll band, Khazad Doom, from suburban Morton Grove, Illinois, throughout the sixties and early seventies, performing in and around Chicago. Artistically, over nine years, they forged a kind of music now called Progressive Rock. Jack, in a sixties memoir, Got To Make It!, wrote of his rock band and about his years with the band and their unusual decade together. After their split in 1972, during the eighties, the band achieved cult status when their promo album LEVEL 6 1/2 was reissued and distributed throughout Europe. As leader, Jack drove the band toward its goal of stardom.
He entered the corporate world with his MBA in 1974, which took him to Illinois, Texas, California, and Kansas. In 1983, with a gift for photography, Jack did commercial photography for well known clients. With a lifetime of 38 years of surgeries beginning when he was 27 years of age, Jack has had to rehabilitate again and again after each surgery reinventing his career as he went through long periods of rehab. Jack now resides in southern California with his wife, Karen, and has established a full time career as a writer of fiction. Writer Jack Eadon’s diverse life has inspired his American Drama Series. His latest marketing feat has been to serialize his newest book worldwide.
Asked about his writing, he remarked about his books – fiction-based-on-fact – that readers will read how he parlayed a handful of brain surgeries into a handful of careers and a future. He relies on a few close friends and a network of e-mail buddies to provide him a support system. He travels occasionally; doing book talks in the many places he’s lived.
Jack has built an incredible, inviting, and entertaining website about his journey with the epidermoid brain tumor titled, “Jack’s Getting Back!” It is an illustrated and easy to follow 13-step process for coping with and recovering from a major health trauma or life event. You can find his website here.
In an interview Jack Eadon had this to say:
Briefly discuss the trauma you have suffered.
At the age of 27, I saw double. Since then, I’ve had five brain surgeries to reduce and finally remove a large benign recurrent tumor wrapped around my brain stem. Since my last surgery in August 2010, I have not had a thing to eat or drink; I’m waiting for my swallowing to return and am taking steps to make that happen.
Talk about a moment of hope you experience in the midst of this trauma.
During my last recuperation I began to rehabilitate my facial nerves and muscles, one at a time while looking into the mirror. I applied a similar approach to exercise my larynx to exercise swallowing muscles. Once I regained some control over my healing body, I felt incredible hope surge within me. I knew then that I would eventually return to normal.
What gives you the strength to persevere?
I never realized how my gregarious existence was wrapped up in food until I had to be tube-fed. No Super Bowl parties or barbecues for me. Most of my friends have disappeared, family has not been available, and people have hung up on me because of my garbled voice. I have never been a particularly religious man, but one friend who has stuck by me suggested that my perseverance in the face of this trauma seemed almost “other-worldly.” For the first time I really sensed that my strength was a gift of God’s; that whatever I did was truly a reflection of His love of me. For the first time in my life, I really did not think that religious talk was corny; I understood the power of infinite love. I think my revelation has given me the strength to do my daily therapies – physical, balance, facial muscles, and swallowing – and I’m now seeing results. I think I will swallow soon.
How has your spirit changed, prior to the diagnosis to now?
When I felt in control but had the strength of God with me, I improved. I think I had to hit bottom before I truly found that hope. Then I dug myself out, slowly but surely! Enthusiasm about my writing continues, working on book #2 of my series. I’m rediscovering my love of photography and listen to music again, too! Finally, I want to speak about my story to people across the country.
What is your advice for someone suffering a traumatic health diagnosis?
Attitude is everything and having a spiritual base is helpful. Acceptance makes recuperation easier. With each step, you’ll gain momentum!
WHAT’S JACK UP TO NOW?
An important trip to solve some very troubling issues – Since having brain surgery August 17, 2010, Jack has not swallowed. That means he hasn’t had a thing to eat or drink – except liquid food through a G-Tube – for over four years, and has lost over 100 pounds. He suffers from dysphagia. One thing you can say about Jack, HE NEVER GIVES UP. Always positive, he tells everyone that he is in the best shape of his life. . .except he can’t eat. For years now, Jack has searched for help with his dysphagia. Jack visited the swallowing team at University of California at Davis on October 24, 2012. He had a high tech swallowing study and a follow up consultation. The result was intense therapy with a talented and accomplished speech language pathologist at Scripps in San Diego. He called this “Boot Camp” and even did a daily diary with photos…all fascinating for Epidermoid Brain Tumor Society (EBTS) and National Foundation of Swallowing Disorders (NFOSD) members to follow. Again no improvement. Later, Jack consulted with a therapist recommended to him and has turned his search to “Down Under”. Jack will be traveling to New Zealand in 2015 for weeks of therapy with a new doctor and coach that is known for amazing results with cases that are turned away by others. Once again he is off for a trip that may cure him. . .he never stops trying. He will keep his friends, and his two support organizations, EBTS and NFOSD updated. In making plans for this trip, Jack has also conducted a fundraiser on his website (place link) seeking needed research funding for both organizations as his way of raising awareness about these supportive organizations. He voices the two organizations in their effort to spread awareness of how devastating an epidermoid brain tumor that is caused by a neural tube defect can interrupt a life with brain injury (dysphagia) that one has to cope/live with. Jack is a mentor and a driving force for both organizations. Indeed. . .Jack is Back!