Then and Now
Then: 2001
In 2001, Dick Ticcioni and I were working together at an advertising agency when he was diagnosed with Lymphoma following a hernia examination. Though Dick remained positive, I was devastated that I couldn’t do more to help him through his difficult time. It was the bitterest inspiration I've ever received, but it gave me an idea for a song, which I recorded that night in my home studio despite a 102-degree fever. I would become the first of many motivated by Dick’s courage.
The lyrics, much like Dick’s struggle, began as an open-ended question: “Will I be here?” But thanks to the support of LLS, friends, family and an aggressive chemotherapy campaign, the end of the song was rewritten as Lymphoma’s uncertainty was trumped by a definitive statement of life: “The future’s here.“ Dick’s cancer went into remission after 93 days. He had won the battle, and 10 years later, he continues to win the battle.
“This Time Tomorrow” took on a life of its own. We made a music video, released the song as a CD single and took the song on tour, telling Dick’s story and donating the money we raised to LLS. Without fail, each time would touch someone new. Everyone knows someone who has dealt with cancer—a mother, father, brother, sister, loved one or friend. A lot of them had stories that they wanted to share. Some just wanted to say “Thanks.”
Now: 2010
I’ve stayed active with LLS since writing TTT. My company, Z2 Marketing, created an LLS advertising campaign complete with Emilie’s Army: a donation portal that raised almost $2000 in the name of a local girl dealing with cancer. And recently, we were honored to hear that my business partner Debra Zindler is a nominee for LLS’s Woman of the Year.
Our efforts have made a difference. Dick Ticcioni is living healthy. But the battle with cancer continues. In support of LLS’s 2010 Girl of the Year and acute lymphocytic leukemia survivor Frankie Deutsch and all others like her, I have joined forces with established musical acts to rerecord “This Time Tomorrow.” Using the power of song and the momentum generated by the original version, we plan to further the cause of LLS and help turn cancer patients into cancer survivors.
The work isn’t over. Everyone deserves a tomorrow.