European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 19, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A Gazimek secs photo by l e Emmett Lewis i a of a bout with Neuron Ursry John Petrovich it Back on Bast As Long at i m playing again i m Happy Bass player beats he Odd by Janet Howells tier Ney stall writer question Mark shaped scar on John s. Patrovich s head regularly reminds him How Uncertain his me became two yeas ago in december 1985. Petrovich decided 10 Lake a year Oli from his Job with the . Military Community s spots Vilice in Hanau. Germany to do what jazz musicians Calt Wood shedding. He planned to give his Luil attention to playing Bass. Petrovich dreamed o becoming a professional Bass player and his Wile Margarel. A Leacher at Hanau elementary school supported his dream. I had played Bass in High school and was a tree lanes player in local nightclubs Blore being drafted in 1964." the Mies Ohio native said. Atler getting out of the service i always Kepi a Day Job to finance my schooling and music. Finally. I Gollo the Point theia i said i Nave to give this Bass playing one Good year. I us left that i should t just Lay that  Petrovich quickly Slid a hand through his Brown hair tuesday. January 19, 19b8 before explaining to hts dream went wrong i had a constant Linging in my ears and pain in my head. I have always been no Are of what was going on with my body. 1 always a of incised and know when i was in Good working order but when i was chocked by doctors they did l find anything until i went to or Jones. He saved my  to August 1988, Potrovich Well to of was hymn a Jones Chick of the ear Rose and Throat Section of fran Lurl army regional medical Center routine lest results were Normal. Then Jones decided to do Ono last isl a computerized Axial tomography commonly called a cat scan. The scan revealed an a oust c Neuroma which meant that Petrovich had a tumor on his auditory . Generally this kind of brain tumor grows slowly and us it grows will begin pressing on nearby  Jones said. His tumor was l Ocypo Dinghy Large but had to be dealt Wilh quickly " Jones explained to Petovich Itiat he would Havo to go to the United Stales to Havo inc Luxor removed by a neurosurgeon. I told him i could t predict Iho  Jones said tutors of this Type can sometimes be peeled away from the nerve or the Luxor could a Lacfi Itsell to the Neive so both would have to be removed " Petrovich hew to the Cleveland Ohio clinic foundation Lor the operation that Neil month be plumber 1986. The night Belore the opera Iran i was so nervous i could t sleep he said my Hig Gisl Lear was that i would be paralysed and in a chair Loi Iho rest of my Hie the surgical Loam worked 12 hours on Petrovich the doctor told me right away mat they had gotten in All he said. He Lold me Ihal he i Loughl us out lose the Healing n my Lell ear  during Tho following week Polzovich found that along Ajith the hearing loss to also had la learn to walk and talk again. My equilibrium was missed up. Acid because some of my nerves Wero bruised during surgery my Mouth drooped on the Letl Side and Iliad a trailing twitch to my  a recalled. Petrovich returned Lora Murt in december 1966, he was walking with a Cane and feeling a Bil helpless. Slowly Petrovich began getting Strong i. Drank to weight training. He wont to work As ,1 manager Tor a physical fitness Conler. I saw him soon after he Clu Rcd  Janes said. To was still in the very Early Healing phase. Hi3 balance was Oil and his lace Muscles wore weak " but each time Petrovich visited him Jones noticed dramatic  he had All the pieces of Iho Puzzle and improved quickly Jones said. Despite his Quick recovery. Pc Rovich was Lelu Tarsi to Fry playing Bass again. I kept picking up sounds that weren t there he explained. As a Bass player i had to be Able to Block out the sounds of other Insl Rumenko. Bui Ilia kind of sound Discini Minalio was  about a year alter his operation. Polzovich was asked la play Bass for a \si2 band the Hanau Community theater was organizing he could t Icsis. I be enjoyed jazz since the  he said to this Day i Don l believe Here has been any big musical change since jazz the Lime concept is different and electronics have been added to pump ii up. But there Aie no big innovations " so pot Rovitch. 45. Began to play again you Don t forget the physical feeling of  to said Wilh an easy smile. Bui i had to re ram Tho sounds thai i Lei  Petrovich is one of the Lew american jazz musicians in the group of Gorman Arna Leurs they All play in Well Hal the Only thing sepia Trig them rom pros is gelling paid to  Petrovich said. As Long As i m playing again i m Happy to i m nol playing As Well As i was before. I Don t know it because i can t hear it. No one has said  the group will play a big band concert Jan. 22 and 23 at 8 p m. In Hanau s five pfennig playhouse. Call ets 322-b031 or civilian06181-52688for Rick cd information. The stars and stripes Page 13