It was a moment brought Chad Gilbert to tears. The guitarist and vocalist for New Found Glory made his return to the stage last week in a wheelchair.
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The 45-year-old musician reunited with the pop punk band in Nashville during his fight against a rare form of cancer.
What Happened to Chad Gilbert?
In 2021, Gilbert was diagnosed with metastatic pheochromocytoma. According to the Mayo Clinic, the rare tumor can release hormones that can cause high blood pressure, headache, sweating, and panic attack symptoms.
Then, in February, Gilbert lost control of his limbs during a show and was rushed to the hospital. He shared what happened in a social media post in March.
"On February 20th, I played a show in Nashville and was struggling to control the movements of my left hand. My left leg was getting weaker by the day and I started stumbling and falling at times. On the 23rd, I was taken to the ER," he wrote.
Gilbert shared that a CT scan revealed three tumors in his brain. As reported by PEOPLE, his diagnosis had changed from metastatic pheochromocytoma to adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), a more severe cancer.
The difference between the two cancers is small but important. The tumor actually started in the outer layer of the adrenal gland, not the inner layer as first believed. People with ACC suffer from muscle weakness and tend to have a much shorter lifespan.
But Gilbert has defied the odds. He had the tumors surgically removed in February and has been recovering ever since.
Gilbert Played With New Found Glory
Gilbert shared what it felt like to play with New Found Glory again in an Instagram post, which featured photos from the show.
"Monday was such a special night," he wrote. "I got to play a show in front of my daughter, something I truly never thought I'd get to do again. And my beautiful wife and all the nurses and doctors, my amazing team that have kept me alive through my battle. It was very emotional getting up on stage with my band again to play. So many feelings all at once. Here are some photos from the show. If you were there I hope you had a great time. Love you all."
