Published: Saturday, February 19, 2011, 6:00 PM
Flu-like symptoms sent singer and musician Dwight Fitch to the emergency room, but his wife, Connie Fitch, could see the mass on the X-ray. when the diagnosis came back as stage 3 lung cancer, they knew they were in for the fight of their lives.
Chris Granger, The Times-Picayune Dwight Fitch smiles as he and the Xavier choir sing in harmony during practice in January on the Xavier University campus.
“The doctor told me, ‘You’re in trouble here. You’ve got to throw the kitchen sink at this,” Dwight Fitch said. “Or go fishing”
Now, two years later and cancer-free, Dwight Fitch is still singing, and he and his family are saying thank you to those who walked beside them in difficult days.
“Victory in Jesus,” a gospel praise CD recorded and produced by the Fitch family through the family-owned recording business, Fitchfield Music LLC, is their way of giving back.
Proceeds go toward the construction of the St. Katharine Drexel Chapel at Xavier University, where Fitch is music minister, and to the various churches of the Archdiocese of New Orleans that offered support.
“We wanted to say thank you to the community for the outpouring of love shown to Dwight and the family during his healing process,” said Connie Fitch.
Dwight Fitch is lead vocalist and composer of five of the 10 songs on the CD, including the cover song, “Victory in Jesus.” The upbeat rhythm and blues piece features “sounds of the world” and children singing, and a spoken part by granddaughter Amour Fitch, 9, at the end.
Connie Fitch, sons John and Cory Fitch, and daughter Sunni Fitch Arnolie provided background vocals and collaboration on thesongwriting, production, recording and marketing. each has professional recording experience.
“All of it was influenced by that experience” with cancer, said John Fitch. “The words, everything, down to the mixing.”
Friends gathered at the hospital to pray the day Dwight Fitch was prepped for surgery, but the operation was canceled when doctors decided it was too risky.
Chris Granger, The Times-Picayune’If I praised God every second, it probably wouldn’t be enough,’ Dwight Fitch says.
Fitch received radiation treatments, then turned to homeopathic medicine as other options ran out. The nontraditional treatment, which included high doses of intravenous vitamin C, was not covered by insurance.
Marshall Meggs, a friend whose health equipment business was lost in Hurricane Katrina, gave Fitch free access to the only machine not lost in the storm: the one needed for Fitch’s oxygen therapy.
While Fitch was undergoing treatment, friends and relatives threw the couple an anniversary party that included a limousine ride, a red carpet welcome and monetary gifts to help with medical expenses.
The Archdiocesan Mass Choir honored Fitch at its annual concert and gave him proceeds from that event. many others showered the couple with gifts and prayers.
“It was a miracle time,” Connie Fitch said.
“We felt like we needed to give something back,” Dwight Fitch said. “Being a music minister, I had the opportunity to do that through music.”
As music minister with Xavier’s Campus Ministry Office, Dwight Fitch plays piano and leads worship daily at the noon Mass, and directs the Sunday Student Gospel Choir.
The St. Katharine Drexel Chapel is named for the university’sfounder and will be the first freestanding house of worship on campus. World-renowned architect Cesar Pelli is the designer.
The CD was recorded in the Fitchfield Music LLC Recording Studio at the couple’s home on Duels Street, and is their first recording as a family. two previous CDs produced by Dwight and Connie Fitch for Liberty Bank include a Christmas collection and a recording of love songs. a second family album will be released this fall.
“It was a great experience being together in the studio as a family,” John Fitch said.
John Fitch traveled and sang with Jive Records recordingartist Imajin, and now produces for his own label, Star Status Music Group.
Sunni Fitch Arnolie has recorded with Motown Records and is a graduate of Xavier University. Cory Fitch studied music at Berklee College in Boston. The family first appeared together at the Theatre of Performing Arts for the St. Augustine High School Band Concert years ago.
While the CD allows the family to give back to supporters, itsmessage is gratitude to God. Dwight Fitch wrote “Dwell in the Shelter,” based on Psalm 91 and “Trust in God,” based on Psalm 27.
“If I praised God every second, it probably wouldn’t be enough,” Fitch said.
The long list of “prayer warriors” acknowledged on the CD cover include their church family at St. Raymond/St. Leo Catholic Church, the Rev. Anthony Bozeman, pastor of St. Mary’s Academy, where Connie Fitch is alumni director, and many others.
Though going through the ordeal wasn’t easy for her family, Sunni Fitch Arnolie said, “There’s victory in Jesus.”
By Marilyn Stewart, contributing writer