Hi! Thanks for checking out my Indiegogo page.
Who am I? I am an artist. I am a musician. I am a cancer
survivor…
AND IT
HASN’T BEATEN ME (YET)!!
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I wish to create a beautiful expression of my tumultuous
journey back to wellness in song. I learned a lot about love and relationships,
as well as the pain of loss and the strength of the spirit. By funding my Indiegogo
campaign, you’ll be giving me the tools to record in words and music the pains
and triumphs of my sojourn with cancer, and helping me return to my roots on
the island where I was born—Jamaica. Help me realize this goal so that what I learned
can speak to others, too. I need your
support to raise $25,000 for this project!
Backstory
I was diagnosed with cancer of the thyroid back in
December 2012. That single event changed my world forever. I had surgery
to remove my thyroid a month later, but due to surgical error from that
procedure, I was left with a rare and permanent disorder called postsurgical hypoparathyroidism. There
is hormone therapy for people without a thyroid gland. Only recently have there been any meaningful steps to develop hormone therapy for hypoparathyroidism. I now take literally
handfuls of pills daily. (I say this only as a point of information. What’s
done is done. Life is too short to dwell on the past.)
Watch the video below to learn more about this medical
condition:
Worst
of all for me was the fact that my vocal cords were irrevocably damaged. For
a year, I was reduced to speaking in hoarse, breathy whispers and double-tones
from a condition called vocal paresia.That
year felt like forever, not knowing if I would even speak normally again, let
alone sing. The doctors held out little hope of my being able to even speak at anything
other than a whisper for the rest of my life. I was devastated.
Click the link below to hear what I sounded like (singing) before the surgery:
This is what I sounded like (speaking) after the surgery:
Not being sure if I’d ever speak or make music again in
the way I was used to, hurt me deeply and left me severely depressed for years.
It is something I still struggle with to this day.
Here’s
a video of me singing for the first time after the surgery, summer of
2013:
With therapy and lots of support from my wonderful
husband (he wouldn’t let me quit), I regained most of my speaking voice, although it stills sounds off when I’m
tired, and even though I can sing once more, I no longer have the same range I
did before all this happened. Despite all that, I am NOT going to let that hold
me down!!
Read my story: www.expressionsbyjo.com/journey
Why
Jamaica?
I’m making a new start. I want to build something new on
what I have learned and experienced here in the US – both good and bad, and my
fervent desire is to do it in my birth home of Kingston, Jamaica. It is where
life for me with music started. I’ve performed for large and small crowds ever since
I was eight years old while growing up there. Returning to my roots and doing
the album on my island home will put the music closer to the beating of my
Caribbean heart.
The reason
for all of this
My experience
with cancer has made me realize that the disease affects the spirit, much more
than the body. Even if it’s just a song, having someone in your life providing
comfort when things are dark can be worth more to them than all the
treatments the doctors give.
When
I get to Jamaica, bringing music to brighten the day of others will be a way of
sharing my experiences to give hope that there is life after cancer.
Any
proceeds from album sales will go to the Jamaica Cancer Society: http://jamaicacancersociety.org.
To celebrate the fact that I can still carry a tune, even
if I’m missing some parts of my voice, I want to make a brand new,
studio-produced, top-notch album that will tell the world, “Thank you! I’m
still here!”
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I want to express my gratitude to the universe and all
who have supported me to health and wellness by putting it all in song. I am
not able to perform much publicly anymore. I do not have the strength and endurance
I once had on account of my medical condition. But I can still sing. I can
still write music. Jamaica is the land of reggae legends Jimmy Cliff and Bob
Marley. The island’s heart
is music!
I want to be close to that heart once again!
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What
your generosity will help me do:
- production of album (studio time, musicians, mixing, mastering) $6,000
- CD manufacturing, marketing and shipping
- $4,000
- video production - $3,000
- move to Jamaica from Atlanta, GA (flight, moving expenses*) - $12,000
* if you’ve ever tried to move
to another country, you know it ain’t cheap
What
you'll get:
Your contribution will get you anything from a hat, to a personal "thank you" video from me on the beach in Jamaica. You could even get a tour of Kingston! Check out the Perks!
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Thank
you!
Regardless of the amount raised, every little bit helps!
If you are unable to contribute, but would still like to help my campaign, please like this page on Facebook or
other social media and forward it to anyone you think might be interested in
supporting it. Use the campaign links provided at the bottom of the page, or check out the sites below.
Find the campaign:
https://www.facebook.com/joanne.carlson.9250
https://twitter.com/crowdfundforjo
#crowdfundforjo
Learn more about me:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChsSr5xrXavtw5BF59wNQDg/videos
www.expressionsbyjo.com
http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/joanne-carls...
Recording my album in Jamaica is only the beginning. Aside
from music, I am also a painter, I knit and crochet, and I am constantly trying
something new to express myself creatively. I want to give back the love that
has been so abundantly shown to me by becoming active in the artistic community
as much as possible. Empowering others to bring forth their own artistic
expression is something I take very seriously, and by funding my Indiegogo
campaign, you will help me on the road to building something meaningful in the arts
in Kingston—something that is near and dear to my heart.
Thank you for taking the time to check out my page.
I Love You!
I Trust You With My Love!
Wishing You Health, Longevity and Peace!