Cancer fighter and US TV star team up for song
A cancer survivor on the brink of death has released an emotional song with a US TV reality star.
Stuart Arnott never thought he’d be able to hear the project he started whilst in an isolation ward fighting for his life.
But now, after a five-year long battle with blood cancer myelofibrosis, the spirited musician has seen his deeply moving song ‘A Stranger’ completed with his cousin Drew Scott taking the reins.
Thanks to reality star Drew, one half of the Amercian TV show, Property Brothers, 56-year-old Stuart, from Troon, hopes his charity single will become an online hit and raise donations for a charity close to his heart.
Property Brothers, a hit US show, sees the Scott brothers, Jonathan and Drew, make home improvements for A-listers like Michael Buble, Brad Pitt and others.
Stuart had only just recovered from a coma at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, in May 2019 when he started to develop the emotional words and music.
He survived thanks to two stem cell transplants, the second provided by his daughter Gillian, 29, after his body rejected the first from an American donor. Medics thought many times he wouldn’t survive.
Inspired by his own courageous battle, the dad-of-two, with Gillian, his son Alasdair, 24, and partner Wendy by his side, said he wanted to deliver something which could help anyone through their toughest moments.
After work on a trans-Atlantic production, the song has finally been released on streaming sites Spotify, YouTube music and Apple music with Drew getting set to release the powerful single to his 3.2 million followers on Facebook.
Stuart said: “To think I wrote this from an isolation ward in hospital and now it is being hosted on streaming sites is a bit surreal. Hearing it for the first time was particularly emotional both for myself and my family.
“When I woke up from the coma I started to write a letter and soon ‘A Stranger’ was formed. This is a song for everyone; a stranger could be anything that really turns your life upside down.
“My favourite line of the song is ‘grab hold of the horns and just dance’- you only get one chance in this life, you don’t know what is round the corner.”
The release with the song has coincided with Stuart’s release back into the world continuing to shield after four years due to his condition as he battles back to full health.
Stuart hopes the song will become a hit here and in the US. Due to his frailties he was unable to contribute to the recording.
He added: “I’m delighted with it and to have Drew on board, I am just so grateful for his support. He’s first and foremost my cousin but the fact he is so popular will no doubt help to encourage donations.”
The song will help raise funds for charity Anthony Nolan Trust who aim to recruit donors for life saving stem cell transplants.
Drew Scott said: “Stuart truly wrote a beautiful song and I know how important it was for him to show anyone going through a similar journey to his that they are not alone. I was honoured to be a part of the process.”