3 Doors Down rocker Brad Arnold's family tragedy months before shock cancer diagnosis
3 Doors Down rocker Brad Arnold suffered a devastating loss just months before announcing his shock stage four cancer diagnosis on Wednesday.
The musician, 46, revealed in an Instagram post in September that he lost his beloved golden retriever Luna in a sudden and tragic accident, and later broke down on stage during a concert in Dallas as he shared the sad news with the audience.
Luna died after her collar got snagged on a part of the fence in the singer's backyard, and 'cut off her air.'
Brad shared the news in an anniversary post dedicated to his wife, Jennifer Sanderford, writing that Luna was waiting for them 'in Heaven' as he shared two sweet photos of the dog.
'I'm sorry for the pain we're feeling today. We'll miss you Luna. You were our little baby girl,' he wrote in the caption.
'Luna got her collar hung on a fence in our yard yesterday and it cut off her air. She went to wait for us in Heaven. We love you little baby girl,' Brad added.
@mikestanleyband
Brad Arnold of @3 Doors Down breaks down onstage at Dos Equis Pavilion in Dallas after learning his golden retriever passed away just minutes before walking on stage. Prayers to Brad for a loss that rough, and for toughing through it for the fans. Such a humble, patriotic, and Christ-filled man 🦮😭🙏 #90srock #rock #dallas #prayers #dog #goldenretriever #sickpup #creed #fingereleven #trending #fyp #summerof99
♬ original sound - Mike Stanley
The rocker had to do a show that same night, and teared up while talking about Luna.
He started by telling the audience he and Jennifer don't have kids, only 'two golden retrievers.'
'I just found out about five minutes before I walked out here that one of my dogs got choked on my fence and died, and my heart is breaking right now,' he shared as his voice cracked, adding 'I loved that dog.'
He then asked the audience to say a prayer for Luna.
'God's got a plan for everything that happens in our life, and if it's his plan to take my dog, I understand. But I love that dog so much. So, just understand that, I can't smile right now. I love y'all.'
In the comments, one fan wrote: 'We were there last night when you got the news and told us all through tears and then still went on to do an amazing show. You are an amazing person and I feel privileged to support an artist like you. Praying for you and your wife.'
Elsewhere in his anniversary post, Brad thanked Jennifer for showing him 'what love is.'
'Happy Anniversary baby. Thank you for the best 15 years of my life @jen_arnold I sincerely didn't know what an angel God had given me 15 years ago,' he wrote.
'I thought I loved you then. I didn't even realize that I was hardly capable of love. Thank you for showing me what love is. Thank you for bringing me closer to God and seeking Him with me.'
'I'm sorry for the pain we're feeling today. We'll miss you Luna. You were our little baby girl,' he shared in the caption, adding, 'She went to wait for us in Heaven. We love you little baby girl'
The following day Brad shared that the pair adopted a puppy named Lucy Mae, writing that though she is 'not a replacement' she had put his 'heart back together'
Brad and Jennifer have been married since 2009. Brad was previously married to Terika Roberts from 2001 until 2007; seen with Jennifer in 2012
'Thank you for every prayer you prayed for me and for every time you told me 'it's ok baby'. I'll love you with my last breath.'
The pair have been married since 2009. Brad was previously married to Terika Roberts from 2001 until 2007.
The following day Brad shared that the pair adopted a puppy named Lucy Mae, writing that though she is 'not a replacement' she had put his 'heart back together.'
'My first thought when I woke up yesterday morning after one of the worst nights of my life in losing my baby girl Luna was 'I have to find a puppy TODAY!' Still layin' in thee bed I called Jen to tell her I had to find a puppy.'
'Her response was ' Baby, Chuck (my friend and tour manager) is already on his way and is picking a puppy up for you....we just wanted to make sure you wanted her.' I said 'PLEASE BRING HER TO ME!' Jen had already found her for me.'
'I'm tellin' ya,I married an angel. Her name is Lucy Mae. She's so sweet! She's not a replacement….we know thats not how it works but she certainly put my heart back together. Thank you all for your prayers and for thinking about us.
On Wednesday, Brad announced he is battling kidney cancer that has spread to his lung in a heartbreaking video - in which he vowed to battle the disease as 'it's not my time.'
He said: 'Hey, everybody, it's Brad from 3 Doors Down. I hope you're having a great day today. I've got some not-so-good news for you today.
'So I'd been sick a couple of weeks ago, and then went to the hospital and got checked out and had actually gotten the diagnosis that I had clear cell renal carcinoma that had metastasized into my lung.
'And it's stage four, and that's not really good. But you know what? We serve a mighty God, and he can overcome anything.'
'So I have no fear. I really, sincerely am not scared of it at all. But it is gonna force us to cancel our tour this summer. And we're sorry for that.'
Referencing the band's hit song he added: 'And I'd love for you to lift me in prayer every chance you get. And I think it is time for me to maybe go listen to It's Not My Time a little bit. Thank you, guys, so much. God loves you. We love you. See you.'
The drummer's video was captioned: 'Thank you for all the memories so far. Now, I believe 'ITS NOT MY TIME' is really my song.'
'This'll be a battle so we need our prayers warriors! Thank y'all for being the best fans in the world. We love y'all!'
The band's tour was due to begin in Daytona Beach, Florida on May 15.
He concluded: 'Thank you for all the memories so far. Now, I believe 'It's Not My Time' is really my song. This'll be a battle so we need our prayers warriors! Thank y'all for being the best fans in the world. We love y'all!'
'Thank you for all the memories so far. Now, I believe 'It's Not My Time' is really my song. This'll be a battle so we need our prayers warriors! Thank y'all for being the best fans in the world. We love y'all!' he wrote
Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common type of kidney cancer, making up about 75 per cent of all kidney cancers.
At stage three and four it kills between 85 and 90 percent of patients.
Kidney cancer is the seventh most common type of cancer among men in the US and tenth most common among women.
Only around 10 to 15 per cent of patients diagnosed with late stage ccRCC survive after five years.
Arnold is one of three founding members of the iconic band, alongside Tod Harrell and the late Matt Roberts, who died in 2016.
After acquiring Chris Henderson as guitarist, they released a now multi-platinum debut album called The Better Life in 2000, known for such singles as Kryptonite and Duck And Run.
The group was later joined by drummer Richard Liles, who played during the tour for their first album.
Their second album, Away from the Sun (2002), debuted at number eight on the Billboard 200, and included acclaimed singles When I'm Gone and Here Without You.
Their third and fourth studio albums, Seventeen Days (2005) and their self-titled fourth album (2008), both topped the Billboard 200.
Time of My Life charted at no 3 in 2011 with the band's last studio album, Us and the Night released in 2016 charting at 14 in the US.
The band's current line-up is comprised of Arnold, Chris Henderson, Greg Upchurch, Chet Roberts and Justin Biltonen.
The band was rocked by tragedy in 2016 with the shock death of 38-year-old Roberts from an overdose involving fentanyl, hydrocodone and alprazolam.
Roberts left the band after its 2012 European tour, checking into rehab the same year.
He was found dead in August 2016 in a hotel hallway in West Bend, Wisconsin, where he had gone to perform a charity concert.
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