From the Herald Sun - Wed Aug 08 2007
Alan Howe
Jim fell ill last month while on holiday in England, where doctors found his kidneys had failed.
He was immediately placed on dialysis and made arrangements to come home.
Myeloma often manifests itself as kidney disease and British doctors quickly identified the source of his illness.
"It's treatable and it often goes into remission" said the upbeat Keays, from his home last night.
"I started chemotherapy last week and I am confident both will work.
"My kidneys are running on about 5% but they have improved a bit already."
Surrounded by his family - wife of 18 years, Karin and daughters Holly 11, and Bonnie 5 - the former Masters Apprentices frontman spoke of plans for the future.
Karin said " The doctors are quietly confident Jim's kidney function will improve. Jim has such strength of will that I have no doubt that he will make it happen."
The Keays' time in the UK hospital coincided with last month's extraordinary floods in
England. "For a few days I was driving through floodwaters several times a day to get to Jim in the hospital, then back with the girls to our accommodation in the country." Karin said.
"There were so many people, people who we hadn't met before who were ready to help in any way they could, even when their own country was in a state of disaster. It was really heart-warming."
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As one third of Cotton Keays and Morris - the band in which he plays with fellow music veterans Russell Morris and Darryl Cotton - Keays has a busy book for the rest of the year.
"We have had to drop a few gigs, and Russell and Darryl played Saturday night together, but I hope to be back in business and playing with the boys next month" he said.
"I've been lucky. I've had good health all my life. Until this I had never been to hospital - and I plan to get out of this one quick smart."
Keays' problems started a few weeks back. He had back pain, but the real problem was a build up of toxins in the kidneys.
"I saw a couple of doctors but they didn't appear to be able to work out what was going wrong. In the end Karin decided to call an ambulance and get me to hospital." The Keays family decided to dash back home as soon as the Oxford team had stabilised Jim to manage the journey.
"You can't beat being home and, although they are overworked, the doctors and nurses in both countries have been terrific." he said.
Keays is being treated in hospital but is allowed home visits. He has been a fixture in the Australian music scene for more than 40 years after bursting out of Adelaide with the Masters Apprentices in 1966.
Their hits included Undecided, Elevator Driver, 5:10 Man, Turn Up Your Radio and Because I Love You.
He only recently completed his latest solo album, Resonator. "I hope to be playing those songs soon, too" Keays said.