THE WISH (1991)

When the doctors told him the cancer had returned and it was terminal, it was like being hit in the face with a shovel. He remembered feeling that way when he was first diagnosed, at the age of 16, with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, a rare cancer. He’d gone through the chemotherapy treatments for a year and a half, and endured a bone-marrow transplant. The doctors suggested that he make a choice ... he could stay in the hospital for more futile treatments, which would continue until he died ... or he could go home and live life to its fullest in the short time he had left. At the age of 18, the decision was easy for him ... he chose life. And we chose to walk the path with him.
There will be four of us on this journey -- my husband Jack and I, our 12 year old daughter Beth, and the leader of this group, our son Gregg. Our days will be devoted to helping him live, ignoring the ominous shadow following us. Gregg teaches us to "live for the moment," not thinking about the past or the future.
After a few days, Gregg asks, "I've always had two wishes in my life, do you think it’s possible for them to come true? "
His first wish is to play in a concert with pop-jazz pianist Bruce Hornsby. Since Gregg is an accomplished pianist this is not an absurd request. I know there is no way I can ever stage a concert without professional help. After many days of stress and false leads, I am finally connected with the Starlight Foundation, an organization that grants seriously ill children a wish. And so, the Fairy Godmother, Starlight volunteer, Iris, enters our lives and becomes the liaison between Bruce and Gregg.
Luck is with us, Bruce Hornsby and his band, The Range, will be appearing in the Earth Day Concert on April 20, 1991, at Foxboro Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts.
Bruce’s first response to Gregg’s wish is, "We’ll be happy to do the gig with Gregg on Earth Day."
Gregg immediately writes Bruce a letter. His feelings are reflected in the following excerpts from that letter ...
"Dear Mr. Bruce Hornsby,
It’s impossible for me to express in words how thrilled I was when I first heard that you would be willing to let me play some of your songs on Earth Day with you and the band. I’m so overwhelmed - I can never thank you enough for the opportunity you’ve given me.
Music has really been the biggest influence on my life over the course of my past 18 years. My mother first introduced me to the piano when I was very young and I have been playing constantly for over 9 years - it is always my first love.
In sixth grade I was introduced to the violin and played classical music all through high school, I was swept up in playing in orchestra groups around my community and for the high school. High school music opened me up as a person tremendously - I can’t imagine what high school would’ve been like without it.
Despite all of my orchestra playing, I constantly kept playing the piano on my own - still my favorite. However, I never had chances to perform on the keyboard because I was always needed for the violins - I felt everyone was only seeing one side of what I could do.
One of the things I had always dreamed of doing, was forming a rock band of my own - I had set up plans for doing so my Senior year but, in the middle of everything, I suddenly and without any warning became ill and my whole world and plans quickly crumbled in the face of a life-threatening illness.
Before that all began, I became swept into your style of music when I first heard "The Valley Road" a few years ago. Piano talent like yours is rarely heard in popular music and, being a fellow avid pianist myself, I was fascinated by your unique way of showing how a piano can really shine in today’s " artificially synthesized" music world. After seeing you on TV in the Farm-Aid Concert last year, I was immediately inspired and became determined to learn some of your music for myself. After a lot of work, I finally mastered, "The Valley Road" ( my all-time favorite) and I learned several others - they certainly are impressive to play...
The important thing, I think, for you to understand is that this is my LIFE wish - meaning, whether or not my unfortunate circumstances had ever come about, I would have ALWAYS dreamed of doing something like this with you because I am a fellow music lover - NOT because my illness gave me a chance to pick something special to do.
The Gregg Wolfson writing this letter to you is the music loving 18 year old kid who is inspired by your fabulous talent - it is only my physical body that has any attachment to the illness - the two sides NEVER cross into each other.
Thank you again so much for allowing me to do this with you. I hope now you have a good idea of how much this means to me. What you are doing makes you a very special person. I’ll do my best to impress you! See you on Earth Day ..."
Gregg’s second wish is to travel. Jack’s cousin, Gerry, grants this wish, by telling us "Start packing, I have made all the arrangements." Within one week we are on our way to the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas and California. During our travels Gregg loses weight and becomes weaker. I constantly worry that he will not be well enough to perform in the concert, but he seems completely focused on sightseeing and has the ability to embrace each precious moment of our trip. We travel for seventeen days.
All the arrangements for the concert are made while we are away. There are many long distance phone calls between Gregg and Iris.
"What are you going to wear for the concert?" I ask. " Show business people wear flashy clothes. You’re going to be a star, and if you wear an outfit bought in Hollywood then you’ll feel like a star. Let’s buy you something outrageous!"
So while we are in Beverly Hills we go shopping on Rodeo Drive. Not window shopping, but real shopping! He buys jeans, socks, and a belt for the silver buckle he had purchased in Arizona. Now for the final touch. The grandest purchase of all is a shirt from one of Rodeo Drive’s most exclusive men’s shops. It is a silk sport shirt that looks like it’s made for a rock star, at a rock star price of $135! Blue and green rectangles splash in every direction on an aqua background, as if someone had taken a paint brush to it. The staff graciously waits on him, treating him like royalty. Then, the crowning moment, he whisks out his own credit card and proudly pays for the shirt himself.
We return home from our trip four days before the concert. I keep saying to Gregg, "Don’t you have to practice?"
"Nope," he answers, "I know the songs as well as I ever could."
I’d forgotten the ten hours of practice each day when he was home recuperating from the bone-marrow transplant. I would listen to those private concerts, feeling sad that nobody else heard this glorious piano music.
Saturday, April 20, 1991: The Earth Day Concert is here. Unfortunately, Mother Nature does not cooperate. It ‘s a miserable day -- cold and rainy. The Concert is being held outside. Our plans have to be changed -- Gregg has to wear a jacket. Much to our disappointment, the silk shirt will not be seen by the audience. He finally decides to wear the silk shirt anyway -- under many layers of sweatshirts and topped off with his Salem High School Track jacket. He will still feel like a star -- he knows he has that million dollar shirt on.
The Starlight Foundation has arranged for a limousine to bring us to the Foxboro stadium, from our home in Salem, Massachusetts. We are all in a festive mood when the limousine arrives around 8:00 A.M. During the long drive, Gregg and Beth amuse themselves by pushing the intercom and sun-roof buttons, making faces at people in other cars (who can not see them because of the tinted windows) and joking with the chauffeur.
We meet Iris when we arrive at Foxboro Stadium. She will accompany us all day. Iris asks Jack, Beth and me where we want to sit during the performance. Do we want to be on stage in the wings, or do we want to sit in the audience? Without hesitation we choose the wings. She meets Bruce’s manager, and returns with back-stage passes for all of us. Gregg is given an Artist’s Pass to wear around his neck. It allows him access anywhere. He is thrilled at being treated like a celebrity. Throughout the ensuing day, Jack, Beth and I follow along, observing, remaining in the background. We are absorbing memories to last us a lifetime.
When Bruce is told that Gregg has arrived, he comes running out of his dressing room calling, "Gregg, Gregg, where are you?" They seem to instantly bond and sit in the dressing room talking and getting to know each other. It’s a joy to see Gregg’s dream in action.
About 10:00 A.M. we are brought on stage for the morning rehearsal. Gregg had previously told Iris that he didn’t want any publicity about his appearance in the concert, and did not want people thinking of him as the sick boy who had his last wish fulfilled, so Bruce introduces Gregg to everyone as his special guest performer.
The stage is a jumble of confusion, cables snaking across the floor, people and equipment everywhere. Everyone in the band seems to be playing something different. Bruce asks Gregg to play some songs . During this chaos, Gregg sits down at the black Baldwin grand piano and plays his favorite song, Valley Road.
Bruce standing behind him smiles, "You play my songs better than I do!" Calling out to everyone on stage, "Hey listen to Gregg, he’s jamming!"
Bruce and Gregg decide that during the evening performance Gregg will be playing the electric keyboard while Bruce plays piano. The keyboard is moved next to the piano and Gregg stands behind it ready to play. Bruce sits at the piano, suddenly waves his hand and the band starts to play.I am standing behind the speakers connected to Gregg’s keyboard. I feel myself wondering if all the years of practice have been in preparation for tonights concert. Stagehands and technicians stop to watch and listen to Gregg. They enjoy and admire his talent, commenting to Jack and I how good he plays for someone so young.
The drummer tells us, "I couldn’t tell when Bruce stopped playing and Gregg started."
After the rehearsal, the limousine brings us home. Gregg seems tired but happy, and doesn’t say much during the long drive. We briefly talk about Bruce and how impressed we are with his hospitality and friendliness. The glow on Gregg’s face, tells me everything is fine. The limousine returns late in the afternoon and whisks us back to the stadium for the evening concert.
Bruce asks Gregg to hang out with him until the 10:00 P.M. performance, and invites Gregg to have dinner with him in the Hard Rock Cafe tent, where they chat like old friends. When the producer says, "It’s time -- your act will be on in twenty minutes," we are ushered into a nearby trailer.
While they nervously wait for the signal to go on stage, Bruce improvises on the keyboard and keeps us entertained. Then the green light comes on -- it is time for their act.
The thrill of walking to the stage from the trailer. It is pitch black out, and freezing! We cross over a small ramp leading to the stage. Everyone moves quickly and silently, Gregg and Bruce, in front of me. Their forms silhouetted in the dark. The tall figure of Bruce, surrounded by his band, and Gregg next to him. There is a magical, eerie feeling to it all.
The anticipation and excitement are so high, I can feel the energy waves vibrating the stage. We wait in the crowded wings and Gregg follows Bruce on stage to a tumultuous roar from the 37,000 fans.
And so Gregg’s dream begins-- he plays his heart out. He plays song after song. When he plays his favorite, The Valley Road, I can hear the sound of his keyboard clearly over all the other instruments. From the piano, Bruce keeps turning around to smile at him, and call out, "Go Gregg." Gregg plays solos, and looks so confident and happy , he is on another level of reality. The multi-colored spotlights pick up the sparkle in his intense brown eyes and dark hair.
Jack, Beth and I eventually work our way to the rear of the stage and watch from the shadows. We are bombarded by sounds and blinding stage lights which make the audience appear as a bouncing, massive creature. Fans stand on their seats screaming and jumping, while others dance in the aisles.
Looking up at the 20’ x 28’ screen, (publicized as the world’s largest television screen), I see Gregg many times. Seeing his image enlarged on the screen, I can’t believe he will soon be lost to us forever. Tears of love, pride and sadness are running down my face.
After a while, Gregg starts to have ill effects from the cold wind blowing across the stage and becomes so chilled that he has difficulty breathing. We put another sweatshirt on him.
The wish has become reality and a freezing forty minutes later the act is over. The crowd roars. As Bruce introduces each band member for the final bow, he says, "... and Gregg Wolfson". Gregg has been allowed to enter into the world of show business. I know what it feels like to be the proud mother of a rock-star, and have my memories of this day, that I will cherish forever.
Bruce wants Gregg to stay on stage for the Grand Finale, but Gregg is too cold . We have to rush him back to the dressing room. He cannot catch his breath. When Bruce finishes performing, he joins us in the dressing room. His manager tells him to hurry. He has to leave before he is overwhelmed by his fans. A bus is waiting to take him to his hotel. As Bruce quickly hugs Gregg, Jack takes their picture -- then Bruce is gone.
During the ride home, an exhausted Gregg whispers, "I know what it feels like to be a star."
We see Gregg’s health improve for weeks after the concert. The joy he has reliving that day lasts with him until the end.
Bruce telephones Gregg every few weeks, and Gregg considers him a pal. Many times I say to Gregg, "Boy, when you pick an idol, you really pick ‘em!"
On July 3, 1991, Gregg passes away peacefully at home. We bury him wearing the silk shirt and jeans.