How Chess Saved My Life

I was diagnosed with Cancer six months ago. Since I'm new here, I give you a quick introduction to my life. I've been a professional musician for about 27 years. The bands I played in did really well for themselves (and I give thanks every single day since music has allowed me to travel and see many amazing things, as well as allowing me to play a whole lot of chess). I had stopped actively touring and built a studio into my house in San Francisco. I started a record label and have been recording a solo CD this year. I developed a lump on the side of my neck that got huge really fast. I went to the doctor, had a biopsy performed and discovered I had head and neck cancer. Stress plays a crucial role in recovery. The last shows and tour we did nearl killed me. My wife finally stated the obvious: I had to stop playing during treatment. This left me with a huge void in my life: What to do with my time since I was totally beaten up from chemotherapy and radiation. I could only think of one thing that would save my sanity throughout this ordeal; CHESS. I set up a training program and play for five to six hours, seven days a week. Being able to play chess had kept my mind off of the frightening aspects of cancer. The good news is that after only seven of treatment, the tumors have all but gone away and I have two weeks left and I'm done. I was only able to make it through this mentally because I was able to bury myself in the game of Chess. My doctor asked me how I was able to remain so calm. I told him about playing chess and he is passing this idea along to other patients. It's so great to have a forum like this one, which I found bt accident, to discuss the world's greatest game. Thanks for having me, I look forward to logging on every day and learning something new. You guys (and gals) are GREAT!!!!

"The good news is that after only seven of treatment" seven what? Days? weeks? months? That was a really cool article man! intresting story! Hey , where can i hear one of ur CD's?

I'm sorry, it was seven weeks. I eish it was 7 days. I have 2 myspace pages

 

http://www.myspce.com/johnnygenocide

http://www.myspace.com/noalternativerules

 

It's funny how chess has played such an important part of my life. When I was younger I worked at Games of Berkeley with two Chess Masters, one of who was constantly giving me lessons, including the dreaded "blindfold Chess." Man was that hard. Glad you liked my two cents worth, as they say. Sorry about the treatment time table confusion. Still 7 weeks is a shrt treatment no matter how painful it gets. I can't use my voice for the next three months, since even speaking is painful (due to the radiation to my neck) so being able to write people on this site really helps me feel like I can have some sort of conversation. It is great at times to whisper to my wife that I can't talk when I'm playing chess and don't want to yak about something (ha, ha, hope she doesn't read this).

Thats a great story, glad to hear you're doing better now.

Let us know when the clean bill of health comes through after 2 weeks, are you going back to music? Play a bit of chess in between sets? :P

Good luck, Mr. Patterson.

May Hugh and chess live forever.

Thank You Batgirl. When I went to get my radiation treatment today, I went at a later time then I normally go. There were a great number of people on gurnies and in wheel chairs. While I am having the radiation centered on my neck (which makes it impossible to sing, which I have to do in the two bands I play with) and it is the most painful place to have this form of treatment, there are people far worse off than I am. I will recover while many won't. I remember this each time I go to my daily treatment. By the way Batgirl, call me Hug, since I haven't been called Mr. Patterson since I did a brief stint teaching chemistry. Again, the lesson to be learned from all my ranting is that chess can be an extremely comforting way to blot out serious problems. It also stimulates the brain. I start every morning with chess puzzles and plan on introducing the game of chess to all of my band websites. I am also thinking of forming a musician's chess league here in San Francisco. There are a lot of smart folks playing in bands here and the idea sounds fun. Thanks for the thoughtful comment Batgirl.

wow. that is really an amazing story. thank you for sharing. i hope your recovery is full and complete!

Great story! Chess is indeed a useful time waster/distraction :)

Hugh,

I'm glad to have come across this article just as I have finished my website. I am certain that Chess saves lives! Many others, I believe, share the same sentiment. I welcome everyone that wants to make a difference in the lives of children to begin looking at Chess as a truly academic subject. PLEASE visit the following website and you will have a better understanding of what Chess can do for others. Best of luck and I'm sure others are wondering about your recovery process... Take care.

www.chesssaveslives.com

I found your story just by chance while googling and I loved your real life story and yes chess has done so much more for me personally and as well for my students.I am a chess coach for 22 years now and have lost the count of number of students I have taught.Have taught many kids with dyslexia and ADHD and I am happy to share this that all have responded very well thanks to chess.Once I was recommended by a top psychiatrist to teach his patient who was under depression and yes you guessed it right...chess helped him come out of depression! I always say and I believe this that chess is not just a game...it's a lot more!I am glad to stumble upon your story and I hope you are clear of that deadly disease!Wishing you best for your future!!