Alison Stephens

[Scott Tichenor]

Sad news received just now. Alison Stephens has entered hospice in Arthur Rank Hospice, Mill Road, Cambridge. As many of you know, this is her third bout with cancer. She's in our thoughts today. So sad. This news was provided by her mother who forwarded to some contacts in the UK who then forwarded to someone at CMSA who contacted me.

[Mandolin Mick]

She's in my prayers.

[John Craton]

Many prayers for Alison!

[MLT]

She and her family will be in my prayers.

[Jim Garber]

So sad and such a talented and giving person. We had a few very nice email "conversations" over the years. My heart goes out to her.

[vkioulaphides]

I would have met Ali in person, for the first time, a week from now, next Friday, in the Netherlands.

She will surely be with us in spirit, while fighting her battle across the channel; our thoughts, too, will be with her. Speriamo...

Victor

[Alex Timmerman]

Yes, Alison is absolutely in our thoughts and prayers...

Alex

[JEStanek]

That's a blow to the belly to read. Thoughts and prayers to Alison, her friends and family.

Jamie

[Acquavella]

Dear Ali,

Please stay strong and pull through this tough time. Ali, you are in all of our thoughts & prayers.

Chris.....

[Cheryl Watson]

Allison and her family are in my thoughts and prayers. I know she has fought a very hard fight with cancer. If we could only find a cure.

[John Goodin]

I'm so sorry to hear this. Alison is an amazing person, and I know that as the members of CMSA gather next week in Seattle we will all be thinking of her.

John G.

[brunello97]

This is truly distressing news. Like many of us following (and pulling) for Ali, I had thought/hoped she was ahead on this fight. She is such an indomitable personality and an inspirational one in many ways. I am rather in tears right now. Scott, you seem to have gotten this word through a circuitous route. Is their some way to extend our best thoughts and feeling to Ali and her family?

Mick

[Plamen Ivanov]

I was wondering how is she doing lately and was afraid of receiving news like this. Damn cancer! I will hope and pray for Ali!!!

[Geoff Barber]

Thinking of you Ali and hoping for the best. It was great to see you again at Bruchsal last June.

[bratsche]

We're all mortal, but she is so young for this. It's sad beyond words. I add my prayers for Alison and her loved ones. May the Lord grant a miracle.

bratsche

[Scott Tichenor]

Mike Marshall asked to to post this for him:

- Very sad news indeed. I met her this past year in Germany at the Euro Mandolin Festival. She was spunky and bright and full of life. I will hope that that energy is with her now. What a sweet lady. We're sending it to you Alison.

[Strider]

My thought are with Alison and her family at this time. God grant you a full recovery please.

Keith

[Mark Levesque]

Oh no, such terrible news.
Alison, please pull through all of this.

Thank you for all the beautiful recordings and publications.
We all adore you.

[CES]

I agree with Jamie...though I didn't know Alison personally, I'd come to think of her as not necessarily a friend but someone I knew through this forum and was pulling for as well. This news is truly saddening, but we all need to remember that sometimes the miracle isn't a cure, but that we've had the past few years of her music, talent, and energy to enjoy at all. I would also encourage everyone to consider hospice an active care choice (as opposed to a passive act of "giving in"). Sometimes hospice truly is the best choice for patients to make. Of course, on the heels of Butch's fight and passing this is truly saddening.

Alison, I will be praying for your comfort and peace for you and your family. Thank you for the gifts you've given us over the years!

[haggis]

Although I have only known Ali for the past 18 months, both as friends and as my mandolin teacher. she has had a profound effect on my life. Her influence across the world is immense, and I am sure that her huge number of friends will be totally devastated by the speed at which her third onset of cancer has struck.

I first became aware of her latest illness during my last lesson with her, shortly before the Dartington International Music Festival at which she presented some brilliant workshops in the morning sessions, followed by joint ensemble work with Craig Ogden's guitarists in the afternoon, in spite of being in unbelievable pain throughout. Indeed, she insisted in presenting a premiere piece with Craig to a packed audience, and then travelled to Edinburgh to give two superb concerts at the Fringe. Afterwards a small group of us laughed and joked in a local bar nearby, and there was no inkling of what was to come. I still cannot get my head around it all.

All my thoughts and prayers are with her.

Eric

[Onesound]

That is shocking and saddening news. I really enjoyed reading the recent article about her on this board. Her playing really amazes me, and listening to her recordings a joy. Alison and her family are in my prayers.

[Pietrobono]

Very sad news.
All my best wishes for her to win this third fight as soon as possible.

[Scott Tichenor]

An update that came a bit more directly just now.

------

Ali's condition is not at all good, treatment has stopped as there is nothing further that can be done, but in the hospice she is in kind hands and not suffering. Ali's mum Jackie, sends her thanks for all of the kind words that she has read on the Cafe and it is comforting for her to know that Alison's music and personality has brought joy and happiness to so many people and that so many are thinking of her and praying for her at this time. Jackie kindly asks that people do not try to contact the hospice as she fears that they will be overwhelmed with enquiries.

Ali's mum has asked Ian Steel (Cafe member trebleclef528 --link takes you to page for sending PMs) to deal with any messages or enquiries from Cafe members.

[MikeEdgerton]

If the hospice nurses in the UK are anything like the hospice nurses in the US she is in good hands. They are angels on this earth. My thoughts and prayers go out to Alison and her loved ones.

[journeybear]

This is sad news indeed. Alison has been a very talented musician and by all accounts a wonderful person. We had one brief interchange several months back in which she was as pleasant as could be to a nearly complete stranger as one could wish. For someone who is probably the most respected and renowned person I have met through the Café to take the time, consideration, and humor she did with me - not quite a nobody but nowhere near as accomplished a musician as she - speaks volumes of the kind of person she chose to be and the way she has lived her life. I will now cherish that memory forever. As much as I wish her well and hope for recovery, it sounds as if this will be for naught. I am grief stricken. God speed. The Angel Band will be adding an overqualified member to its ranks, much too soon.