The Daily Swarm

Norton Buffalo:

I was out on the road most of this summer with The Steve Miller Band. We’ve had a ball touring throughout the U.S and just returned home from the Summer stretch. We will back out some more in October and November. Be on the lookout for that to release next spring!. Stevie Guitar Miller and I are now celebrating my 34th year of rocking and rolling together!!

While the shows, the music, and the crowds were all great and included some interesting weather conditions, my health, unfortunately, was not happy. I thought that i was developing some kind of asthma, with shortness of breath, wheezing and other asthma like symptoms. All of this was of course affecting both my harmonica playing and my singing as it seemed that there just wasn’t enough air on the planet for what I was trying to do. As I was having such a challenging time breathing, when the shows were over, I was just whooped to the core, could no longer rest comfortably on my right side and was basically miserable. I visited my doctor on a short trip home and when he examined me, he missed it entirely, saying that he didn’t see any thing serious, that my lungs sounded fine.

Finally when we arrived in New York City a couple weeks ago, I knew that something was seriously wrong with my body. I spent several hours on the computer and phone, seeking out a pulmonary doctor who would see me. I found a great doctor, and he, very easily, diagnosed that I had pneumonia… and that I had probably had it for the entire summer tour. I was prescribed a course of antibiotics and considering that we only had 7 shows to go… and I’d already made it through the whole summer, that I would tough it out till the tour was finished. The shows went about the same still hard to breath ..

Throughout this summer tour, I have also supported my health with a very strict diet, acupuncture, traditional chinese medicine, and other supplements and have been consulting with nutritionists, herbalist and others in my circle of friends. I have counseled with my brother Wes, who is an MD and he has helped guide and counsel me regarding the Western Medicine side of things. I counseled with two great healers, Doc MacKimmie, and Dolora Deal, who have been great support and insight. I’ve had a lot of prayers and positive energy coming to me from all over the world. To all of those who have given their time to support my healing in all ways, I hold a great debt of gratitude and love. I also wish to thank all of the doctors, nurses and supporting staff at Feather River Hospital in Paradise for their excellent care. Blessings to all of you.

When I arrived home from Boston, on Sunday night, I was so happy to be home. Our home in Paradise is so beautiful right now with Lisa’s garden going strong and so much wonderful food to eat off our property. Unfortunately, later that evening, I started having some serious coughing spasms that went on for hours. My wife wanted me to go to the hospital that night and I refused. I wanted to relish my first night at home.

First thing Monday morning, Lisa called a local pulmonary specialist and he recommended that I go check into the hospital ER. We headed to the hospital and I am now about to begin my third day here. My pneumonia had gotten worse and there were signs that it was not your average, easy to kill kinda funk. I’ve been poked prodded and had a load of diagnostic tests and procedures. Without going into all the details, lets just say that the doctors have confirmed what I knew all along. I am seriously ill and need to let them use their big guns to get through this bug and onward to good health.

OK, so I thought that pneumonia was a bad bug… but, YIKES! ... Last Wednesday night (Sept 2), I got the word from my doctor, that I had cancer in my lower right lung which has spread around a bit. Technically speaking it’s considered a Stage 4 Adenocarcinoma of the lower right lobe. Thursday I got the results from my MRI, that it is in my brain as well.

So Lisa and I headed up to Montana to see an old friend of hers who is an amazing healer, J.C. Hugh MacKimmie. You can find out more about Doc MacKimmie, or order a book about his life through this site Presence of Angels • A Healer’s Life.

Doc MacKimmie has been working on me for the past couple days and it is amazing to feel the transformation that is happening in my body. I wanted to do this before the Western doctors began trying to pummel my devine body with toxic chemicals and radiation. I am already seeing that my body can change the reality it is facing today and become whole again. I will take this all one day at a time. I feel truly blessed!!!

I am putting all of my energy into healing my body, focusing all of my spirit on divine beauty, love and positive thinking. I, with the grace of God, will rise above and get through this. I am having to take time out for Norton… (something I have not been very good at over the years), and learning the lessons that this twist in the road has to teach me. I truly believe that I will heal. I am not alone. I am so blessed to have my truly amazing angel, Lisa, by my side to help keep me on my path and to care for me… and I have an army of friends, musical brothers and sisters as well as thousands of fans from around the world who are keeping me in their thoughts and prayers as I move into these perilous waters.

Thank you all for your support. I will be setting up a page here on my website that keeps me up to date and allows you to comment. ... meanwhile feel free to drop me a note at the ’‘Fan Club E-Mail” link above. ... I receive all of those letters and would love to hear from you.

blessings, Norton

I have unfortunately had to cancel my tour to Germany and all future concerts and commitments due to my health concerns. We may be able to reschedule for a later date, but for now I’m home in the USA.