Dear Dan and Jean, I cannot share with you how much I have prayed for you during the past years since your diagnosis.  In January of 2005 I was in an automobile accident that has left me disabled and in constant, chronic pain.  I find relief through praying for others and meditation.  (It comes naturally since my vocation was being a Christian Pastor in the United Methodist  Church).  How I loved my work and helping people find God's presence and  their way through whatever happened in life.  I can do that no more.  I am now only able to spiritually support people through prayer.  So you  have been on the top of my list for some time now. I read as much as my eyes will allow.  I recently read a book on  healing by a Native American doctor and one of the many thoughts that he shared  was that a journey has a beginning and an end....it is the middle of the journey  where we have to stay the course.  I don't know where you are in your journey...but I pray that you are staying the course through both the good times and the bad.  It is, after all, the hardest part of our journeys. My  prayers are with you, Jean, and your extended family.
 
I want to also thank you for all of your years of wonderful, beautiful, and diverse music.  I fell in love with your music in high school when your  first  "album" was released.  I continued to follow the course of your career when my life took me to seminary in Washington D.C. in 1981.  I found out you were performing just outside D.C. in Virginia.  So I  asked a handsome young man to come to the concert  with me. His name was/is James  and he too played in a band while attending college. He had  never heard of your music before and so I was thrilled to introduce him to your  music that night.  At the concert you introduced the new song you had just written for  your father entitled, "The Leader of the Band."   When you were  finished the audience went wild with applause and cheers.  Your comment in  return was, "Thank you. 
My Dad likes it too."   In the course of my journey I ended up marrying that handsome man  named James in May 1982.  We have traveled far and wide to attend your concerts as we have both continued to love and purchase your music.   It has helped us to celebrate the rich and rewarding love that we share. Your music has also soothed our wounded souls when we lost our baby and found  out that we would never have children.  It was devastating to us both  of us. No words could ever describe the emotional pain that we were in.  Yet it was your music that helped us through.  Your music has spoken what  we have felt about the earth and humanity and we cannot forget to thank you for  the beautiful Christmas CD.  We just love it and have been able to  introduce many others to your music in our ministries.  (Yes, my handsome  James is a United Methodist Minister too and he still plays in a band).
 
My handsome James and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary this past May.  We cannot forget to thank you for bringing music into our lives that  have helped us to "stay the course" through sickness and in health.  We are  still
crazy about each other and cannot forget the man whose music has been so much a part of our lives. I have never met you or Jean, yet you have been in my prayers and will continue to be.  In this season of Thanksgiving, I am most grateful to you  for the music that helps me now to stay a painful and difficult  course.  May God grant you those daily assurances of His steadfast love and  presence and may your heart and soul be at peace as you "stay the course." With much gratitude ~
Kate E. Cox.

Dan, You are one decent man and I wish I could have been your friend! Your music is excellent and I will pray for you tonight! Sincerely ~ Brian S. Law, Smithtown, NY

Hi Dan... I hope your healing is progressing well. I only recently heard about  this and my thoughts and prayers are with you ! My father,as a senior  citizen,survived advanced prostate cancer. And he's a music lover too....so  "Leader Of The Band" has special meaning to me !
 
I can't recall what year it was but a group of friends and I saw you on your solo tour --just you, your piano and guitar --at a 
theater here in Roanoke , Virginia and it was one of the greatest concerts I ever attended. Your music never gets old. I listen over and over again and enjoy the beauty and brilliance of your lyrics and melodies They're so  unique...always fresh...and a treat to hear. "Longer" and the "Phoenix"  album were my first experiences of your work. "Phoenix", "Nether Lands", the "Portrait" collection and "The  Innocent Age" are my favorites....but I have most of your work.
 
Thank you for the joy the music still brings me. I can't believe people actually ask if "Same Old Lang Syne" actually happened. How can you make up that story ? It's so real as I'm sure much of your music is like  "Dancing Shoes" and "Beggars Game"....just  amazing....compelling stuff ! Thanks for indulging me. God bless you! ~ Joe from Roanoke ,  VA  via Philadelphia , PA

Mr. Fogelberg - It's probably impossible for me to fully explain in words of how I hope, pray and wish for your complete and speedy recovery from this illness.  I am sure you hear it from so many people that it gets old, but I have followed you and your music for over 30 years now.  Your Innocent Age album is the best there is, the best there was, and the best
there ever will be, bar none.  The depth, love and magic of your songs have touched me like no other, with my personal favorite being "The Reach".  I can't quite remember every line written in that magnificent album anymore... but I certainly did for many years and come pretty close still.

I had the pleasure of seeing you in Omaha, in a solo act.  I can still remember that you had contacted a slight cold, and so warned the crowd that your voice might possibly get scratchy on some of the higher notes as you sang.  But you were magnificent.  For me, your music, above and beyond any others, lifts my spirit as little else can... besides my children.  =D.  Your songs are a daily routine for me and have been since the late 1970's Dan... best wishes! Beat this thing! God bless you and your family. ~ Wade Brazee, Columbus Nebraska

Dear Dan, I believe in Heaven and know that God has worked through you and your music to inspire and uplift millions of people. You have been and remain an excellent role model for all and especially musicians. Your music is incomparable and I look forward to seeing you in concert again soon. Best wishes for a complete recovery and may God strengthen you and yours in that effort. A loyal fan and friend ~ Kim Thorup

Dan, Your music has been a part of my life for more than 30 years at this point. I don't have the gift to give to you what you have given to me, but I can say 'Thank you' for all that your music has meant to me. Best wishes and good thoughts are sent your way every time someone hears one of your songs. May they lift you and sustain you through every trial in your life. Be well, now and in the future. Warmest regards ~ G Greene

My thoughts and prayers go to you and your family.  I have always found comfort in your music and I hope in your time of need you have something or someone that will bring you comfort.  My Best Wishes for a speedy recovery. ~ Heather Brown

Hi Dan - I write you from Barcelona (Spain) and this email comes with my sincere desire that you have a quick recovery. Since I discovered you I felt a strong tie to you. The music, your style, you. You are a great friend to me. I found out about your illness on your website. I am a sincere admirer and send you a great hug. ~ Alex

Bless you and your family as you continue your journey. Sincerely ~ Cheryl Cutting

Dear Dan: Yesterday I happened to hear one of my favorites of your songs, "Leader of  the Band." As usual, it made me cry - as somehow I think you must have known my father and written it about him. He was all of those things you sing about: an  only child, a World War II soldier whose "horn" playing Big Band sounds soothed  the concerns of his fellow heroes, a man whose discipline confused me as a child  and I understand so well now as a parent. And I don't think I ever said I love him near enough!
 
As it happens, yesterday, when I randomly heard this song, was the 11th anniversary of my father's death. Realizing that there must have been some cosmic reason for that song to have played on that date, I decided after many,  many
years of loving your music, to write to you to thank you for all of the  melodies that have enhanced my life since first discovering you as a college freshman in 1974. But particularly to thank you for giving me the lasting gift of my father's memory in "Leader of the Band."
 
So, imagine my shock at seeing what you are dealing with! Maybe there  really is some cosmic reason for hearing that song yesterday! Here's  the deal, D.F. - you'll get through this! My husband had lymphoma and it was BAD, but there
was no way we were going to let it defeat us! I  hope you can somehow call upon all the strength you have ever had, all the love  of your family, and all the love of your fans to give you the stamina and  stubbornness necessary to fight this! There are days, I'm sure, that are tough,  but I always tell my kids: all you have to do is put one foot out, then the next  - little steps, but keep on moving forward. With much love from the Leader of the Band's daughter ~ Nikki Steingold

I just learned today of your struggle with prostate cancer. I certainly  want to add my voice to all those who are sending prayers heavenward on your behalf. I first heard your music in 1973 as a freshman in college. Then, now and  through all the years in between it has provided a balm for my spirit, lifted me  when I needed to be lifted, and provided comfort in the times of pain and  turmoil. Through all those years I have turned to the music and as always you were able to reach somewhere deep inside my being and touch my heart in just the  right spot. After all these years you still do that. I pray for peace, comfort and healing as you and your family face the times ahead and I pray that  your spirit may be lifted in these times as you have lifted mine through the past 30+ years.

Dan, like thousands of your fans I search your web site weekly to find an update of your condition. It's like knowing a relative is having trouble but you can't reach them or they can't reach you and the unknown can be torture. But then again we know you are a private person and at times like these you have no obligation to inform us of anything. You have given the world so much during the past 30 years you owe us nothing. I sincerely hope you are fairing well and understand your
privacy. I'll be content to play your songs on my D-41DF Martin guitar and think of you fondly as I do, wishing my good thoughts are helping you in some way. Thank you for all you have given. ~ Rich, Pittsburgh, PA

Dan: When I heard that you had been given the dubious opportunity to redefine yourself in the face of cancer I wanted to send you and your family a brief  note. You have already had to travel some difficult roads in the face of the diagnosis and there will doubtless be more in the future but I hope that, like so many others who have had been diagnosed with cancer, you will, on the back side, find it to have been a road worth traveling.
 
The biggest challenge that we face in our lives is to remain ourselves - true to our truest form of self - in the face of adversity. In my work as a therapist and as a volunteer with the Lance Armstrong Foundation I have had the blessing of being able to meet and work with a great many people who have  been facing the challenges that cancer has brought to their lives and I wanted  to share with you the overall message that I have gotten from each one of  them... "You can either let your life be defined by your cancer or you can  continue to define your life yourself."
 
If anyone can do it - define their cancer in ways that allow them to remain themselves - true to their family, friends and themselves - you can. In this run  for the roses there are millions of winners every year - so, if you haven't  already done so I encourage you to choose life, love, happiness and family. Choose to be the best friend you can be to yourself and those around you - for, if you can do that, the battle is won no matter the outcome.

When we seek magic - even in the darkest of times - we find more of  ourselves. I wish you and all those close to you all the best that this challenge can bring you - and may life, in this its most simple form, fill you with joy and  an ease of spirit through the course of this challenge and belong! ~ Ellen Brock

To Dan Fogelberg - I just wanted to let you know that my heart goes out to you and your family through these hard times.
I am a huge fan of you and your music, and have been so for a great number of years. I love your lyrics and the ease with which the melody flows!!! You are in my thoughts. Sincerely ~ Mikael, Denmark

Dan, I often think of you and wish you good health and happiness and hope you continue to heal. Love and best regards ~ Malcolm. Scotland.

Dan, My husband just broke the news to me of your prostate cancer as he had pulled up your website and was listening to your music.  We have been to many of your concerts (we lived in Colorado for 10 years) and have fond memories of warm, summer nights at Red Rocks hearing your wonderful voice. You make so many people smile and have been blessed with such a given talent.  We are praying for you and please know how many of those you touched will be touching you back with their love and thoughts. Be strong... ~ Lynn and Dave

Dan, My wife and I miss the joy of searching the record shelves for new albums by you.  Your ballads fill our souls with the emotions of life.  We will keep you and your family inn our prayers.  Stay strong, know that your work has great importance in our lives.

Dan,  I first heard your music from a roommate of mine some 30 years ago. I was amazed by the beauty and emotion of the music. It was different than the commercial music everyone else was playing and I fell in love  with it from the first song. Even today, 30 years later, your music is like an old best friend. I listen to and enjoy all kinds of music but nothing touches my heart like your songs. I hope God answers your prayers. ~   Dan Anderberg   

Dear Dan, It's been three years now since we heard the news of "the" cancer. ( I say "the" because I refuse to allow it to be a part of "you" )I now feel a connection deeper than before to you. On what would have been my 51st birthday ( I'm a leap year baby and this was March 1st) I was diagnosed with rectal carcinoma during a routine physical. I've undergone 28 concurrent radiation and oral chemo treatments, followed by two Folfox drip chemo treatments prior to surgery. Even though my treatment had all but eliminated the tumor, I ended up with a permanent colostomy ( and other procedures ) since the cancer was still found in area where the tumor had been. Like you, I have gone public attempting to save someone else from my ordeal. Another live performance by you would be just what the Dr ordered but under the circumstances, all your focus should be on you and overcoming this issue. Don't ever let it become a part of you. I tell people I'm a cancer patient, never that I "have" cancer. It's a waiting game for me now.....2-3 years for this type to show back up. In the meantime, my life will go on as normal as I can make it. I hope you're doing the same. We have been given a gift, so to speak. Nothing is taken for granted anymore. I know you well through your music ( since '73 ) but given the chance, I'd jump to know the man behind the music. Stay strong ~ Jennifer Wehking

Dear Dan, Please know that you are in my thoughts and all that is good is being wished and directed your way.  Your music has been a powerful force in so many lives, as it has been in mine.  While I only know you from your artistic creations, I believe that you have the strength to overcome this.  May all the joy, passion, strength and comfort, you have given to others through the years now return to you and your loved ones. With sincere respect and affection ~ Lynette A. - Tucson, AZ