TOM MULLICA TODAY

As an Atlantan, I remember very fondly the many nights that I spent in Tom Foolery's Magic Bar in Buckhead. (That's an odd - almost downtown area of Atlanta). Because Tom Mullica was one of those guys whose performance had inspired my interest in magic over the years, I'd been exchanging emails with him in regards to scheduling a phone interview with him. Tom being Tom, he mentioned that he couldn't imagine that he had anything on the topic to discuss, but that he'd be happy to do so once our schedules meshed.

In response to an email that I sent Tom recently with regard to scheduling our chat, I received the following in response. After reading it, I am sure that you will understand why I ask that we all keep him in our thoughts.

"On January 16th, during a show in Alliance, Nebraska Tom felt ill and almost passed out, he tried to finish the show while seated but could not. He was met backstage by emergency responders and was rushed to the hospital. After undergoing tests he was told to cancel the rest of the tour and meet with his personal physician.

While home there were more blood tests followed by a bone marrow biopsy which showed that more that 40% of Tom's white blood cells were immature and that he has Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (blood and bone marrow cancer).

On February 17th he was admitted to the Cancer Ward of the Cox Medical Center where he will undergo high level chemotherapy for the next 30 days. He will then go home and continue with the chemotherapy with five days of treatment per month for four months. At the conclusion he will hopefully be much better but there is a chance that he will need a stem-cell 
transplant.

He obviously had to cancel the rest of his tour and postpone his March opening in Branson. I am sure all of you will join me in wishing Tom the best as he goes through this very serious ordeal."