Care Pages

Jim Kishline

On Sunday May 6, 2007, Jim Kishline, fellow musicain and friend, suffered a serious head injury as a result of an accident. Jim underwent brain surgery and fought an amazing battle for his life. Jam For S.A.M. and the music community of Wisconsin sponsored events to help Jim, Linda, Pete, and Katie through this difficult time. Jim's recovery and come back is the stuff of movies and books.

Stay posted for an update from Jim in the near future of his amazing story...

A 2008 update from Sam Steffke

In the fall of 2005, I was diagnosed with a rare and very serious blood disease called amyloidosis. The doctors determined that without treatment, this illness would cause organ failure and ultimately would kill me. The prescribed treatment (which had no guarantee of being successful) was chemotherapy, followed by a stem-cell transplant to replace my bone marrow, which would be destroyed by the chemo. The treatment, and subsequent recovery period , was expected to take at least three months.

I have been a self-employed professional musician all my adult life, which means I live week to week with no paid sick days, paid vacation days or retirement benefits. My wife, fortunately, has health insurance, but still the prospect of my being out of work for several months would have been devastating for Cathy and me. Shortly before I entered Froedtert Hospital to begin my treatment, my friend and musical colleague Debi Kossoris approached me with the idea of area musicians staging a fund-raising event for my benefit. I gratefully accepted, and Debi, with the help of Ellen Winters, Tom Utschig, Deirdre Fellner and many other friends and local musicians, put together what became the first "Jam for Sam" event. Long Wong's restaurant was procured as the venue, and to my amazement, Milwaukee musicians immediately began volunteering their services. Those who weren't able to perform at the event (as well as many who did) donated cds to be sold at the silent auction which was also part of the first "Jam for Sam".