609  Progress Report on Nestor Ray; Thanks to All

Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2002 13:57:53 -0700
From: Linda Valentino <lindavalentino@PRODIGY.NET>
Subject: Progress Report on Nestor Ray; Thanks to All

Dear List:
We're happy to report that maestro Nestor Ray had surgery on June 5 and is
doing very well. The tumor in his esophagus was malignant, but it was very
contained and had not yet spread to the other organs. The doctors think they
caught it early enough that they were able to get all of it. The only
remaining question is whether he has signs of cancer in the lymph system. We
will know that for sure later this week. If not, the doctors think he will
not need chemotherapy. At this point he is feeling surprisingly well,
considering the serious and dangerous nature of the surgery he underwent. He
is of course anxious to get out of the hospital and he does intend to teach
at Tango Fireworks at the end of the month as well as maintain his travel
schedule in August and September. So those of you who have Nestor Ray and
Patricia Garcia booked for later on, please do not cancel anything unless
you hear otherwise from Patricia. Many people have been sending donations
(which are still needed, as the hospital is charging for the room),
organizing benefit milongas, etc. throughout the U.S. and the world.
Patricia asked me to post the following thank you on Nestor's and her
behalf.

"We don't have the words to thank all the tangueros for helping us in this
difficult operation that Nestor had. We feel very emotional knowing that
tango unites us for dance for enjoyment and also in the bad times. We want
to thank Dr. Daniel Dunkelman for discovering Nestor's illness in time and
for his knowledge and help with putting together a medical team for this
operation. We want to give a special thanks to Linda Valentino for her great
freiendship and all her support to us and organizing the benefit for Nestor.
We want to thank all the tangueros from L.A. who helped with the benefit,
especially to Miriam Larici and Hugo Patyn, Hector Zaballos, Yoko Nakajima,
Kat Hong-Choy, Eiichi Ito, Oscar Spear, Paul Palmintere Robert Schafer,
Graciela O'Donahue, Raul Perroto, Ana Maria Menendez, Dan and Irene Lee, Jon
Martin & Judy Margolis from Tucson, Avi Waingarten and Cecilia De Lorenzo,
Xugen and LetHuy Phan, Dorothy Ellis, Empanadas Place and Pam and Geno from
Hollywood Dance Center. We give a big thanks to everyone who donated money
for Nestor's medical bills. Many people are helping from all over the
world--the tangueros from San Francisco, especially Steve and Johanna
Palubinskas, Cristy Cote and Victor Nemeses; Brian and Fe and Howard and
Deborah from Santa Barbara; Barbara and Gerry from Ithaca, the associations
of tangueros from Ravenna and Avellino, Italy; the tangueros of Paris,
especially Nattalie Cloudet, Coco Diaz and Delphine, Augusto Siancas and
Andrea and Sebastian Misse; also the tangueros of Buenos Aires, Alicia La
Turca y Laurita, Julio and Corina and Carlos and Alicia. Never we could
forget your solidarity and love.
Thank you!
Nestor Ray and Patricia Garcia"