Thursday, March 28, 2024

Miracle survival

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When Wade Hayes wrote a song about his dog, he had no idea how many people would relate to the connection. “I really just wrote it for myself,” Hayes said. “I didn’t think it would be that popular.” The song, “Who Saved Who,” has touched many. Some even tear up when they hear it. The title of the song refers to a stray dog he rescued. The dog provided comfort and support as he went through two stints with cancer. Hayes will play that song when he comes to Granbury, along with popular hits “Old Enough to Know Better,” “I’m Still Dancing With You” and “On a Good Night.” New music will also be included in the show. Hayes plays at Granbury Live on the square Friday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $38 and $30 at https://thenewgranburylive.com. Hayes’ music is generally upbeat. “I like that honky tonk style,” he noted. The 49-year-old is originally from Oklahoma, though he’s been living in Nashville for many years. His start in music came when he played guitar with his dad’s band. “We played at honky tonks in Oklahoma. I was 14.” Though his roots are in Oklahoma, he loves to perform in Texas. Maybe because Texans love honky-tonk music. And dogs. We love dogs. Hayes found a special dog at a gas station years ago. It was a stray. “He was digging through the dumpster for food. I opened my truck door and he just jumped right in. Filthy, dirty, ticks and all,” he said. “That dog has been through everything with me,” Hayes said in reference to his cancer treatments and recoveries. One day last year, Hayes was looking at his dog, Jack, and noticed how gray he’s getting. He became a little emotional wondering what it will be like when Jack’s gone. “So I wrote a song about him,” Hayes explained. Hayes played the song at a writers night event, and people in the audience had a good reaction. There’s now a video for the song and it’s become quite popular. Jack’s a boxer mix, kinda fat, and about 69 pounds, Hayes said. “He still has some puppy come out every now and then. We think he’s about 10 years old now,” Hayes said of his four-legged buddy.

UNEXPECTED CANCER DIAGNOSIS

After several hit songs early in his career, Hayes had a setback. “I was getting on a plane for a concert in Houston, and was hit with a pain in my abdomen, a very severe pain,” Hayes said. He made it through the concert and went to the doctor as soon as he arrived home. After multiple tests, he was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. A cancerous tumor was removed, along with about 20 inches of intestine, his gall bladder and about 75 percent of his liver. Jack helped with Hayes’ recovery as he endured chemo treatments. “We always walked a mile in the morning and a mile each night,” Hayes recalled. Of course the dog wanted to continue the routine, and while recovering from surgery, Hayes said they went for walks. “He helped me stay active,” Hayes stated. A year later, the cancer returned to the same spot. “But I made it through the surgery and treatments again,” Hayes said. “It’s really a miracle and I’m very happy to be alive.” And he has something else to celebrate. Last year Hayes got married. He and his wife Leah live in Nashville.

dschneider@hcnews.com | 817-573-7066, ext. 255