Parathyroid Punk – 2014

For more on the making of this project, visit the blog post!

When I found out I had hyperparathyroidism, and what one little PUNK GLAND TUMOR was doing to my body, I immediately got the idea to make this music video.

I am very lucky to have been diagnosed, and in June of 2014 I had surgery to remove the tumor, thanks to the contributions of over 230 amazing, generous, wonderful people from around the world. After ten years of being sick, surgery took 14 minutes as an outpatient procedure at the Norman Parathyroid Center in Tampa, Florida. My heart goes out to the many, many undiagnosed people out there who are currently suffering from the progressive effects of this disease.
This video is dedicated to all my friends and to the total strangers who gave so generously to my friends’ fundraising campaign for my surgery, to the medical professionals and advocates who are fighting to get hyperparathyroidism recognized and understood, and to all of my parathyroid friends around the world, both diagnosed and undiagnosed.

LYRICS: Parathyroid Punk

I’m a parathyroid tumor and I live in your neck
I’m a tiny little jerk but I’ll make you a wreck
‘Para’ means ‘close’ to that other famous gland
Don’t confuse me with your thyroid, son, I’ll get out of hand!
Don’t be fooled just ’cause I’m not cancer –
Surgery is still the answer
Have ’em check all four ’cause there might be another:
Here to cause more trouble are my three little brothers!
PTH! Parathyroid Hormone!
PTH! Parathyroid Hormone!
PTH! Parathyroid Hormone!
Stones! Bones! Groans and Moans!
I’m a parathyroid tumor and I’ll kill you one day
But before you die I will make your body pay
Robbing the calcium from your skeleton
That’s osteoporosis, your mind’s like gelatin
I’m a parathyroid tumor and I’ll break your bones
Make you feel like sh*t and fill your kidneys with stones
I’m the Hulk of Parathyroids and I’ll make you cry
and if you don’t get rid of me I’ll make you DIE
PTH! Parathyroid Hormone!
PTH! Parathyroid Hormone!
PTH! Parathyroid Hormone!
Stones! Bones! Groans and Moans!
“GET THE TUMOR OUT OF YOUR NECK THAT IS KILLING YOU!”