From: Jennifer Jane Leitham August 18, 2002 I've been inundated with requests regarding my status since undergoing surgery. Please forgive the group nature of this response but sitting at the computer hurts a bit at the moment. The best news is: I'm alive!!!! It's been a bit more difficult than was expected but progress is being made and I'm on the mend. I played my first gig last night and it's great to be playing again. A rather poetic performance for me as it was with Ann Patterson and her all-girl band Maiden Voyage. All great players including my old friend Stacey Rowles on trumpet and the terrific Megan Foley on drums. I need a bit of help with cartage of my gear but playing the bass is no problem. I am truly indebted to my close friends for helping me while in the hospital. Thanks to all who pitched in, sent gifts and flowers, called, and those who visited. I'm especially in awe of the incredible nursing staff at Century City Hospital, names too numerous to mention, but special thanks go to Julie (from Ireland), Kim, Hermie and the two Lucys. I am especially grateful to Dr. Gary Alter, Dr. Edward Chough and Dr. Richard Horowitz.  They are brilliant human beings. I feel that Dr. Alter is the most advanced SRS surgeon on the planet. He's gone out of his way to make me as comfortable as he can and I know that the end results from all that I've gone through will be incredibly wonderful. Life is getting better every day. I feel very fortunate to have come in contact with these talented people. Now it's time to jump back into my musical life, I'm appearing at Spazio's in Sherman Oaks, Ca this Friday August 23rd with Bill Watrous and I'm bursting at the seams with anticipation of playing the Sweet and Hot Festival and the West Coast Jazz Party on Labor Day weekend. Thanks to all who've written, as soon as sitting is not such a big deal I'll be writing again. Warm regards, Jennifer Jane Leitham