BB1 races to the finish line with an amazing attitude, though no liver transplant is approved at this junction, but, he's not looking back

Chuck, Anne, Sharrie and Baby Georgia in the Snugly

Latest update from BB1. After demanding an answer from the powers that be, he finally got his voice heard. "Why should I wait for two months for answers?" he said, "I could croak before they schedule the surgery."  With that one word, "croak," he got their attention. 

Chuck has always been persistent and in this case it has served him well. The surgery is scheduled for July 17th. That's the good news. The not so good news is, there will be no liver transplant at this point, but it's not out of the question. It may be possible in a year and a half. But, shrinking the tumor is priority right now . The diagnosis he first received from his Santa Barbara Doctor was wrong. The Doctor told him the tumor was 3 centimeters, it's actually 7 centimeters and they can't remove it if it's over 5.  They also said his liver numbers were good, they're now downgraded to fair.

So, the plan of action is... They will go up his groin up into his liver and with a instrument that will melt the tumor and keep it from spreading. He will be in the hospital for three days and may have to do it again if necessary.  If he does nothing he has two years to live, with this plan of action they will manage the tumor and hopefully Chuck will live a long time. 

The Hep C and cirrhosis can't be stopped, but the tumor can be halted so that's what he's facing now.  In the mean time he's heading back to Vegas and will enjoy his Motor Coach and his racing at Speed Vegas until he has to come back to Santa Barbara. 

With all the stress BB1, is facing right now, his love and passion for the Beach Boys is still in full swing.  Look at the PR he pulled off for the Speed Vegas Grand Opening. He got Mike Love to the track and in the car to take this great picture.  He also, while racing, asked Mike's permission to promote Speed Vegas. Here's the results.  Not bad Cuz.  You're still the GREATEST!!!

CELEBRITY SIGHTING

THE BEACH BOYS' MIKE LOVE GETS BEHIND THE WHEEL
AT SPEEDVEGAS 

WHO:

Mike Love, co-founder and member, The Beach Boys

WHAT:

Love drove the track in a brand new Corvette Z06 at SPEEDVEGAS. Love experienced the most thrilling driving experience that Las Vegas has to offer driving multiple laps around the brand new Formula One-inspired track.

PHOTO LINK:

Click here to download photos.

PHOTO CREDIT:

SPEEDVEGAS

ABOUT SPEEDVEGAS:

SPEEDVEGAS is the new, award-winning 100-acre motorsports complex. Guests at SPEEDVEGAS experience the world’s most sought-after muscle cars and exotic supercars from Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Audi, Corvette and more. The $30 million SPEEDVEGAS experience features an impressive 1.5 mile (2.4 km) Formula One-inspired racetrack comparable to top circuits in the world and includes 12 sweeping turns, 20-degree banked turns, 60 feet of total elevation change and a half-mile straightaway. In addition, the 20,000-square-foot, 2-story welcome center features indoor and outdoor observation decks, food and beverage selections at a well-appointed café, meetings and event space and much more. SPEEDVEGAS is located at 14200 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89054, just minutes south of the world-famous “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign (Exit 25 on Interstate 15).

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Marina Nicola/Erika Pope

Vox Solid Communications

mnicola@wearevoxsolid.com, epope@wearevoxsolid.com

(702) 586-2137, (702) 249-2977

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A liver transplant may be denied BB1, because of the Cannabis policy at UCLA

After 4 day's at UCLA last week, undergoing a battery of tests on all his organs, BB1 came out with an A+ report.  That's the good news. The bad news is, because he's used cannabis on a regular basis since 1972, and the residue remains in his body for 6 months, he may be denied a liver transplant. That's UCLA's policy on Cannabis...Needless to say, Chuck has stopped the Cannabis, in hopes of reversing any negative outcomes. He is still waiting for the final Doctor's reports and the decision on the liver transplant.  Although the cards seem stacked against him, he's still got that "Good Vibration" going on and when Mike Love called and invited him to Vegas last weekend to see the Beach Boys concert and have dinner with Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers, he was in his Motor Coach at 4:09 Saturday morning and arrived in Vegas by 10:30. 

After setting up his coach at Speed Vegas racetrack and did a couple laps in the Ferrari and Lamborghini, before getting a call from Mike asking him to pick him up in the Motor Coach, at the Martin Condominiums, a huge expensive place on Dean Martin Drive where he's staying. 

Chuck and Mike parked the Coach right where Mike and the band parks and headed into the soundcheck.  "The band has a new team," Mike said, "I want BB1's opinion of the new harmonica, flute and sax player," he said. Chuck was stoked and for a while forgot he had liver cancer. Mike knew his buddy of almost 50 years was hurting and gave him a great piece of advise..."Just Don't Back Down." he said.  Afterwards they went to dinner just one on one. 

Mike asked BB1 if he'd like to move into the two bedroom condo with him for a couple days. Chuck was in his own suite, while Mike was in the other. It was the best time Chuck ever had with Mike and the next day they went to the new track, Speed Vegas, and Chuck took Mike for a spin around the track. The Beach Boys are still the most popular band around from the 60's. They celebrated having 200 sold out audiences in a row while in Vegas and Mike told BB1, that he considered him one of the Beach Boys.  "Not too cool!!" Chuck said.

 While Mike an Chuck hung out and reminisced their history, Mike came up with a great idea.  "How would you like to do the Beach Boys in a concert for the grand opening at the new track"  

"One last concert?" Chuck said, "Like the Last Supper," he joked around.  Mike was serious and Chuck, who produced a few Beach Boy concerts at the Santa Barbara Bowl in the early 70's into the 80's, was roaring to go. "I'm ready to do a really big concert at the track with all of the great car songs the Beach Boys are known for," he said.  Mike also mentioned how much he loved Chuck's Motor Coach and thought it would be a great idea for Chuck to drive him across country to future Beach Boy concerts.  Chucks into it!!!

As soon as Chuck gets word about the thumbs up or thumbs down  liver transplant I will post it asap.  Keep those Good Vibrations going for BB1, he has a lot of livin to do.

BB1's persistence overcomes the red tape devil and win this round

BB1, Chuck Williams with Mike and Jackie Love

After taking blow after blow from the medical establishment, going through the process of red tape, BB1, wins the round in astonishingly fast time. What would normally take months to be scheduled into UCLA for testing, he accomplished in just 6 weeks... because of his nonstop insistence on being heard.

On April 25th Chuck will head to LA and stay in a hotel near UCLA to begin a three day probing process.  By the end, he will have a clear picture of where, when, what and how the liver Cancer surgery will take place . With high spirits he surrenders to the Doctors and heads to Las Vegas for the month of May. He says he'll be hanging out with the Mike Love and the Beach Boys and do some racing at the new Speed Vegas Racetrack.  

Side note: Mike Love is writing a new book, "Good Vibrations," featuring a chapter called "Santa Barbara."  He's sending a writer from a top publishing house to interview Chuck.  The chapter will spotlight BB1 during the time Mike lived in Santa Barbara between 1971 and 1975.  Chuck ran the Santa Barbara Bowl during that time and headlined the Beach Boys on several occasions.   Sounds like a fun fun fun chapter. 

Chuck Williams, BB1, hopes to out race Cancer, get back on the racetrack and win

1983

Talked to Chuck, BB1, today, he took another punch from the process. "The frustration of dealing with red tape is the worst part of the process so far,"  he said. "the Paperwork, the questions, the different admin people reminding me of my dire situation, it's @#%&4#."

I asked him if he's able to rise above it and just do his life.  "I wake up in the morning," he said, it's a beautiful Spring day in Santa Barbara and I can't wait to get going. Then I remember I have Cancer. I forget everything and I wonder if it's growing...and will I ever get my life back."

It's a daily struggle to keep his mind off his Cancer now. Chuck say's he plans to keep his May reservations at the new Las Vegas car racetrack, Speed Vegas. He still hopes he can buy the new racing Alfa Romeo 4C Spider and race on the track. But for now, he has no real control over his future. It's hard for him to trust that the insurance company will ever get the red tape finished so he can get into UCLA and have the tumor removed. 

"I don't want a liver transplant," he said, "I just want them to take the tumor out.".

Stay tuned as BB1 is in the Ring with Cancer.

Only Superman can survive what lies ahead for BB1 and his fight with Cancer.

BB1 whips out his Superman - Man of Steal cape, after a telephone call about his upcoming Cancer Treatment. "It will change me" he said, "I feel confused, but I'm going to fight."  So, in the ring he goes with his deadly opponent.

The disturbing news was: They may get into the liver and find it's worse than expected. They may decide to take the tumor out, but he may still need a Liver Transplant. Chuck doesn't want to go in that direction. But, knows he has to do what ever it takes to beat Cancer.

One of the main questions asked by the Doctor, before being accepted for a possible Liver Transplant was, "How do you think you contacted Hep C?

When BB1 was a 15 year old kid, in 1964 he and a couple of buddies were in his friends garage making a pipe bomb to pull a prank, and it accidentally exploded in his face. Anyone else would have had their head blown off, but with quick reflexes, he turned his head and the metal hit and lodged in his chin. Blood was flying everywhere. The car windows were blown out. But, BB1 was still standing!

Wrapped in a sheet around his head he drove himself back home where his mother took one look at the blood and rushed him to the hospital. That's where the Hep C came. It was about the blood and though there was no transfusion, something happened that might not have happened today.  It sat dormant until 1999, when BB1 took a major fall and broke his ankle. After tests were made, the Hep C appeared. For the last 16 years he's had scans to test the liver with no bad results.  In September, the cirrhosis had turned to Cancer. Now only Superman can survive what lies ahead.

Stay tuned for more details BB1, fights for his life. Can he beat death? Can he come out holding the World Title? Will he hold the belt over his head?  Like the Beach Boys song goes,  "God only knows."

Round One, BB1 takes the first blow!

 

Last September after 16 years of testing every six months, a spot appeared on Chuck Williams, BB1's liver. Six months later the spot had grown and he was told he had Liver Cancer, caused by Hep C that had turned to Cirrhosis of the Liver then to Liver Cancer. The shock was devastating. BB1, was scared but like the "Greatest fighter in the world," Muhammad Ali, he vowed to go into the ring with the big C. The news was bad, but BB1, gathered his team and headed to UCLA. After reviewing the situation, the Doctor gave the round to Chuck. The Cancer was isolated and contained at the top of his Liver. Meaning he had a good chance to beat it.


His family gathered around him last weekend to support him in his battle. His attitude changed from hopeless to hopeful and everyone believed if anyone could beat this rap it will be BB1


Chuck heads to UCLA soon to get the game plan and start a Hep C, eight week cure. After that surgery will follow and "Game On!"


Stay tuned for blow by blow reports.