Support Paul’s Battle with Tongue Cancer

Help Paul Fight Stage Three Tongue Cancer

Dear Friends,

On October 10th, our friend Paul Degen had a visit with a doctor who saw a white spot in the back corner of his tongue. After identifying it as dysplasia at first, Paul reached out to a specialist who took many tests and cut a part of the tongue. The Kaiser doctors soon found out that the MRI showed on Dec 25th, 2024, that Paul unfortunately was diagnosed with Stage Three Tongue Cancer.

Right now, Paul is taking a holistic approach while preparing for his upcoming surgery where he will be out of commission from repairing, teaching lessons, and playing gigs.

The current plan is to remove half the tongue and the lymph nodes, while taking material off the wrist to patch up the tongue after surgery. Paul is expected to be hospitalized for 7 days after the surgery in Kaiser hospital. After the surgery, Paul will need speech therapy, eating therapy, and physical therapy for his hand, and the typical recovery time is expected to be between two to three months. Because Paul cannot work, his finances will be down on top of supporting his family and the repair shop overhead.

Because of this situation, I please ask that you help contribute to a dear friend in a time of need.

There’s no denying that Paul has always been one of my best friends and a mentor and teacher to me and so many people. When I started learning how to fix instruments, he always gave me lessons and supported my path, just like how he does with anyone that enters his life. My horns had never felt as good until Paul put his magic touch on them.

Not only is he an incredible musician, but also a father and man of integrity who treats everyone equally and fairly with respect. He uplifts the lives of others. And there is without a question that his ability of doing the highest quality level of repairs helps keep musicians performing their absolute best in the Silicon Valley Bay Area.

Thank you for your time in reading this and we truly appreciate all contributions to help Paul and his family get through this difficult time.

With Gratitude,

Tim Lin and the Degen Family