On the night before his surgery, Larry Aiken joins in a singspiration at the Alaska Native hospital
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 at 12:56PM 
As I write these words, my friend, Larry Aiken, Iñupiaq whaler and artist of Barrow, is undergoing a six to eight hour surgical procedure to remove a radiation and chemo-killed cancer tumor that extends from his throat through his esophagus into his stomach. The surgery is extremely complex and a specialist has come up from Phoenix, Arizona, to assist.
Last night, I drove into town to visit Larry and when I went in to see him, I left my camera in my car, thinking that we would just have a quiet visit, I would wish him my best, we might share a prayer and then I would go home and leave him to the surgeons.
Indeed, that is just how the first hour of our visit went. For the past couple of weeks, since the second scheduled surgery had to be postponed due to a throat infection, Larry has been staying at the Quyana House, which is attached to the Alaska Native Medical Center hospital.
It is a short walk down the hall from there to the reception area and foyer of the hospital, where music was being performed. So we walked down to the foyer, to see who we might see and listen to all who would sing and perform. Paul Wilson, a well-known Iñupiaq gospel singer originally from Kotzebue but now living in Anchorage, was leading the singing.
Among the other singers was Ada Lynn Negovanna, originally of Wainwright, and her 15 year-old son, Tagalak Negovanna. So I went back to the car and retrieved my camera.
That's Paul in the background with the guitar, Ada to the left of Larry, Sarah, also of Barrow to his right and Tagalak sitting at the right.
As Paul sings and another patient or guest at the hospital raises his arms to feel the spirit, Larry explains his tumor and the surgery that he faces to Ada and Sarah.
After his surgery, Larry is expected to remain in intensive care for about two weeks. He will have a feeding tube down his throat and will not be able to speak. For most of that time, he told me, he will not be able to recognize any who might come to see him, due to the effects of the medications he must take to get through this.
Ada joins in the singing.
Tagalak, Larry, Ada and Sarah. Many songs were sung, such as Arigaa, Tell Me Why You Love, Jesus, How Great Thou Art and several others.
The spirit and feelings were strong in this room.
In the singing, one feels both joy and pain.
As all humans must, all present have known the horrific pain of deep loss, but in getting together to sing in this place where so many come both to heal and to die, they share it - among themselves, and with any stranger who might happen to wonder into the room.
And in the sharing, and reaching out to faith and belief in beyond, there is comfort to be found.
Along with Sarah, Larry lifts his right hand to feel the spirit.
As anyone would, he has felt a great deal of fear as this day has approached. He has gone many nights with little or no sleep.
"I am ready for my surgery now," he says, when the song ends.
On her Facebook page, Ada has posted a video of her and Paul singing.
Larry then returns to Quyana house, where another visitor, Leo Kaleak, who has hunted with Larry in the crew of George Adams, comes to visit him, and to share whaling stories.
Up in Barrow, the whalers are getting ready. They are cutting trail through ice that this year is very rough, with pressure ridges that I am told reach as high as 60 feet. The other night, Larry's captain called him to seek a little advice on stocking and organizing the camp.
The CD's that Larry holds were made by Ada and Tagalak. I have one of them, too. Later, I will see if I can add a song or two from that CD to this post. This is something that I have not yet done, but, hopefully, it will be easy to do.*
*Okay - I downloaded the CD into iTunes, but have so far been unable to find a way to upload a tune to here.
Reader Comments (4)
I wish him all the best !!
incredibly moving post, bill, and what a wonderful idea to have a party to celebrate the upcoming event and create joy in larry as he faces this complex many-hours-long surgery. would love to hear the songs and hope you're able to figger out how to post it. tho of course i may be 'out of town' from april first for a while. interesting that my friends and i did a similar thing this sunday that larry and his friends did. i asked my friend claudia to sing for us w/her sublime voice. friends are all important on occasions of such great solemnity and danger.
Beautiful post Bill.
My father had a similar cancer to Larry's....but he waited too long. Dad was an incredibly gentle man and I surely do miss him and hope to see him again someday when I reach heaven. I miss him an awful lot and he's been gone since 1985.
I will join my prayer with Larry's friends for complete and easy recovery. I like Larry's happy smile.
I read recently that when we sing together a song of faith, it is as if we are praying in unison, all of our voices saying the same prayer together. I like that thought.