The achievements from all those years working the music circuit—the finalist slot for Lilith Fair, the appearance on VH-1—pale in comparison to Jeannie’s joy in performing at the Tug McGraw Foundation Celebrity Gala on November 3, 2006. While she shared the star-studded stage with Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Trick Pony, and Darius Rucker of Hootie & the Blowfish fame, Jeannie was the real celebrity that night. Triumphantly, she rocked the house with her gutsy performance, while still tenderly motioning to the Uhrmacher family in the front row, who after a brave battle that ended just days earlier, would have been celebrating their little Hannah’s seventh birthday that very night. Bob Costas request for another round of applause was answered after he shared Jeannie’s story of hope, and her never-wavering attitude in the face of incredible odds.
Despite helping raise over $160,000 for brain cancer research, suffering tumor regrowth in January 2007, undergoing two more brain surgeries, more radiation and chemo, enduring the emotional break with her partner, and now, experiencing the failing of her body from the effects of this difficult disease, Jeannie’s spirit is as strong as ever. Her clever wit and trademark humor still surprise and delight family and the many friends who travel from across the country to be by her side.
In the bittersweet reality of her journey, Jeannie can no longer hold her guitar, nor carry a tune with the strength of only months ago. And yet the miracle of her music lives on—through the lyrics and recordings of her songs, the photos and footage of her performances, and most of all, through the people whose lives she has deeply touched.
The special spirit that still shines through Jeannie’s bright blue eyes is best exemplified by a song that came into her head years before she ever knew what lie ahead, recorded a cappella in her clear sweet voice, singing of truth—“The God Song.”
“The God Song”
© 2001, Jeannie Kauffman
God wipe away my tears
Hold me in your arms
Light the path that I’ll walk with you and won’t you keep me safe from harm?
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