November 28, 2011

Dear friends,

      As most of you probably know, I have been having some serious health problems for the last few months.  So much so, that I had planned to retire altogether if my health didn’t change.  I got to a point that I could neither walk nor stand and was therefore confined to a wheel chair for mobility.  I had planned on going to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, but the manager of the Grand Ole Opry, Mr. Pete Fisher, suggested that I go to one of our local hospitals here in Nashville, Vanderbilt. 

      He and his staff made me an appointment with a Dr. Claussen and much to my surprise and pleasure he had just moved here from the Mayo Clinic.  Upon meeting him for the first time, he asked me to walk for him.  After I had walked for him a few steps, he assured me that I didn’t have Parkinson’s disease.  He determined that my problem was from a lack of dopamine in my brain which controlled some of my motor skills.  He put me on medication which has cured most of my problems.

      I want to make it clear that I give all the praise and glory to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ for the way in which He worked it out. 

      I have had so many calls and inquiries about the book.  I appreciate your patience and I plan on finishing it as soon as my health will permit.  My sincere best wishes to all of you for understanding.

Jean Shepard

P.S.- I will be doing several shows in 2012 and will post the times and locations as soon as I have the information.