U2 ARE TRULY MY MIRACLE DRUG...
Superfan aj says music worked in mysterious ways on his cancer
A U2 superfan who twice battled a deadly cancer told how the Irish rockers’ music saved his life. AJ Hartnett has attributed his recovery to the healing power of their songs and said they pulled him out “of the depths of hopelessness”. Writing on a fan website, he said: “I was diagnosed with stage-four prostate cancer in January 2015. “The prognosis was grim. The cancer had spread to my skeletal structure and other organs inside my body.” Chicago-based Andy, whose mother is from Donegal and father is from Limerick, has been a fan of the band since childhood. He wrote: “As I descended into the hell of chemotherapy and fought for my life, I wasn’t sure what to expect. “I was looking at a death sentence and began to prepare to enter that place Where The Streets Have No Name.” He added: “Chemotherapy kills everything inside you. “After a chemo session, I felt like (and probably looked like) the walking dead. Sleep was my best friend for days. “When I did arise, it was a slow process, but Edge’s acoustic guitar work and the sweet lyrics of Yahweh gave me purpose and meaning. “The acoustic version of that song became my go-to during those dark days. And when I’m in a jam even now, I still use it as my solid footing.” The father of two said listening to U2’s music is a “spiritual experience”. He added: “U2’s music was there to drag me away from the darkness and back into the light – to give me purpose. “During my darkest days, both physically and mentally, it seems U2 has always played a role in lifting my spirits. “I’d come out of my comatose state, slip on my headphones and get inspired. It could be a drum solo at the end of 40. Or One, Yahweh – you name it. I was like Lazarus rising from the dead when the U2 music kicked in.” The business development executive said in the second half of 2015 he got the news he was beating the disease. To celebrate he went on a road trip with his brother John, also a big U2 fan. They attended the band’s “epic” Innocence+ Experience tour gig in New York. In April 2016, John, who had special needs, passed away. And in Christmas 2016 Andy almost lost his life again when his cancer returned. He wrote on atu2. com: “It was ugly and this time I was taking a very serious beating. I lost all mobility. I couldn’t walk. I couldn’t eat. I could barely drink. I was a dead man walking. “Yet my loving support system has kicked into high gear once again, along with my medical team – and of course, doctors Hewson, Evans, Clayton and Mullen. I’m alive and thriving, and living in the moment.” He told how he’s hitting the road to attend 11 shows on the Joshua Tree 2017 tour. Andy added: “For me, U2 have truly been a miracle drug.”
Edge’s acoustic guitar gave me purpose and meaning AJ HARTNETT ON THE POWER OF U2’S MUSIC