Page 15 - Inspire Health January/February 2016
P. 15
MAESTRO Photo courtesy of Easton Hospital
HEALTH ISSUES CAN’T
SILENCE THE MUSICIAN Like his sight, Ken was struggling with ensemble of talented people,” Ken says.
other diabetes‑related conditions. A leg “I felt loved by him and his staff.”
Ken Brader can run through his ulcer became four foot surgeries. After CODA
accomplished history as easily two years of chronic infection, it was
as his trumpet can run up a clear: the leg needed to be amputated. About a month after surgery, Ken was
scale. He earned a degree in performance able to pick up his trumpet again. He
and toured with the Tommy Dorsey Ken’s infectious disease physician, general gradually got strong enough to perform
Orchestra and Glenn Miller Orchestra. surgeon and cardiothoracic surgeon all met at the wedding of a student. Ken filled
After returning to the area, he taught to discuss his case. Open heart surgeon, the sanctuary with the sounds of
lessons at the local music store his Richard Angelico, MD, didn’t think Ken’s “Trumpet Voluntary.”
grandfather and father operated and heart would survive an amputation.
continued teaching after the shop closed. “When you have taught for 40
He was lead trumpet for the Philly The others agreed. Heart surgery years like I have, you get to create
Pops, toured the world with various would have to come first. some strong relationships with gifted
ensembles and performed on countless performers,” Ken says.
records, one of which won a Grammy. “Dr. Angelico spent time talking to me,”
But his career shifted when diabetes Ken says. “He got to know me and asked But none were as good as Angelico.
robbed him of his eyesight. about my career in addition to addressing my Ken is back to teaching lessons and
In March 2012, he woke one morning health issues. He saw me as a real person.” putting on shows where he plays by
and was unable to see. Two operations memory. And every December, Ken
helped restore a trace amount of vision, but Ken’s severe sleep apnea had him conducts a holiday brass concert with
not enough for him to read the sheet music worried about a lengthy surgery. But Dr. his 50‑piece group. The group only
that has stood before him for decades. Angelico took it upon himself to bring plays arrangements Ken has written
NEW VALVE in an esophageal specialist to ensure exclusively for them. He’s glad to be
Making matters worse? A heart attack surgery would go smoothly. performing, listening to others play and
in the fall of 2014. hearing the applause of a rapt audience.
“For a week, I was winded and couldn’t “Dr. Angelico always went the extra mile “Dr. Angelico gave me back my life,”
catch my breath,” he says. But it wasn’t his to improve the quality of my life,” Ken says. Ken says. “I’m very grateful for the
breath at all. It was congestive heart failure. “He even told me that he looked forward personal care and professional expertise
Ken needed triple bypass surgery and to the day I would play again.” of Dr. Angelico and the other physicians
a new aortic valve. at Easton Hospital. I can’t imagine being
The eight‑hour open heart surgery as happy anywhere else.”
went well.
“In the operating room, it was like Dr.
Angelico was the maestro, conducting an
January § February 2016 INSPIRE HEALTH 15
HEALTH ISSUES CAN’T
SILENCE THE MUSICIAN Like his sight, Ken was struggling with ensemble of talented people,” Ken says.
other diabetes‑related conditions. A leg “I felt loved by him and his staff.”
Ken Brader can run through his ulcer became four foot surgeries. After CODA
accomplished history as easily two years of chronic infection, it was
as his trumpet can run up a clear: the leg needed to be amputated. About a month after surgery, Ken was
scale. He earned a degree in performance able to pick up his trumpet again. He
and toured with the Tommy Dorsey Ken’s infectious disease physician, general gradually got strong enough to perform
Orchestra and Glenn Miller Orchestra. surgeon and cardiothoracic surgeon all met at the wedding of a student. Ken filled
After returning to the area, he taught to discuss his case. Open heart surgeon, the sanctuary with the sounds of
lessons at the local music store his Richard Angelico, MD, didn’t think Ken’s “Trumpet Voluntary.”
grandfather and father operated and heart would survive an amputation.
continued teaching after the shop closed. “When you have taught for 40
He was lead trumpet for the Philly The others agreed. Heart surgery years like I have, you get to create
Pops, toured the world with various would have to come first. some strong relationships with gifted
ensembles and performed on countless performers,” Ken says.
records, one of which won a Grammy. “Dr. Angelico spent time talking to me,”
But his career shifted when diabetes Ken says. “He got to know me and asked But none were as good as Angelico.
robbed him of his eyesight. about my career in addition to addressing my Ken is back to teaching lessons and
In March 2012, he woke one morning health issues. He saw me as a real person.” putting on shows where he plays by
and was unable to see. Two operations memory. And every December, Ken
helped restore a trace amount of vision, but Ken’s severe sleep apnea had him conducts a holiday brass concert with
not enough for him to read the sheet music worried about a lengthy surgery. But Dr. his 50‑piece group. The group only
that has stood before him for decades. Angelico took it upon himself to bring plays arrangements Ken has written
NEW VALVE in an esophageal specialist to ensure exclusively for them. He’s glad to be
Making matters worse? A heart attack surgery would go smoothly. performing, listening to others play and
in the fall of 2014. hearing the applause of a rapt audience.
“For a week, I was winded and couldn’t “Dr. Angelico always went the extra mile “Dr. Angelico gave me back my life,”
catch my breath,” he says. But it wasn’t his to improve the quality of my life,” Ken says. Ken says. “I’m very grateful for the
breath at all. It was congestive heart failure. “He even told me that he looked forward personal care and professional expertise
Ken needed triple bypass surgery and to the day I would play again.” of Dr. Angelico and the other physicians
a new aortic valve. at Easton Hospital. I can’t imagine being
The eight‑hour open heart surgery as happy anywhere else.”
went well.
“In the operating room, it was like Dr.
Angelico was the maestro, conducting an
January § February 2016 INSPIRE HEALTH 15
