GEORGE JONES HAS a new lease on life.
Due to a string of medical complications, including colon cancer and then kidney failure, the original Square One keyboardist had to undergo a number of life-changing procedures that limited his involvement with band gigs.
One such event was Square One’s reunion onboard the MV Harbour Master during Crop Over 2016, and since he was recovering from kidney transplant surgery, Jones had to sit the event out.
But nothing was going to stop the Cayman Islands resident from returning to Barbados to celebrate Independence.
WEEKEND BUZZ spoke to Jones at Kensington Oval on Sunday night after he rocked the stage at Digicel Barbados is Music alongside band members Alison Hinds, Anderson MRBLOOD Armstrong, Terry Mexican Arthur, Cecil Oshaka Riley, Paul Slater and Winston Beckles.
“The interesting thing about this was that I was always going to be here for Independence. I even brought my family down,” he said proudly.
When asked how he felt to be back in Barbados performing and not being hooked up to a dialysis machine, he said it was a great feeling.
“It feels good. It’s nice to be home and healthy. The few times I came before I had to make advance dialysis arrangements and so on, so it feels really good and refreshing to be home and to perform at an event like this without the distractions and inconveniences of advance medical arrangements,” he said.
During the interview Jones recounted his medical journey: his 2010 diagnosis with the cancer, which was a catalyst for his kidney problem.
“In 2010 I had a cancer diagnosis and I successfully fought it. But because of the aggressive onset of my cancer that kind of sped up the end stage of my kidney problems so as soon I got over the cancer situation I went into end stage renal failure, which meant that I had to undergo dialysis,” Jones said.
He explained that because the problem was intestinal, 18 inches of his colon had to be removed and he then had to use temporary colostomy for nine months.
“The interesting thing about it is that the doctors told me I had a 70/30 per cent of wearing that for the rest of my life with the 70 being the worst, but if I took care of it and take control of my diet and be compliant it could be reversed.
“But now I am as normal as you can be under the circumstances because of the successful kidney transplant and I am totally off of dialysis but I’m still controlling myself within the safety of my parameters and moderation but you know it’s like a whole new lease on life,” he said while smiling.
Jones said despite being away from the group since 2004, it was clear that they still got it.
He said fans would see them together once everyone is available, and they have already gotten offers to perform on New Year’s Eve.
“Square One is still the same. They had a few shows that I couldn’t be a part of so it feels great to be a part of this. We have grown up together; and whenever we meet it’s like magic even though we haven’t played together since 2004. The moment we started rehearsal we just gel. It was meant to be,” he added.