In early 2024, things were looking promising for Raudiver, the darkwave duo of Charlie and Lauren Eddy. After releasing their debut album Leave Before Dark and touring with one of Texas’ hottest acts, Temptrix, their music career seemed to be on the rise.
Then, in February, everything came to a halt when Charlie was diagnosed with a Grade 4 glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor.
A Life-Altering Diagnosis
The sudden diagnosis threw the Eddys’ lives into turmoil. After suffering a seizure, Charlie was hospitalized for almost three weeks. The tumor was located in a part of his brain that controls essential functions like reading, writing, speech, and even visual processing.
Surgery removed 95% of the tumor, but Charlie continues to face challenges with seizures, memory loss, and the ongoing effects of his condition. Despite a tough prognosis, Charlie enrolled in experimental clinical trials at MD Anderson, hoping his participation might contribute to solving the disease.
As Lauren shared on Glioblastoma Awareness Day, “This deadly intrusion has torn so many painful holes in who we used to be, and who we could be… but I admire and respect the endurance Charlie has for the pain and daily frustration.”
A New Reality for the Eddys
Raudiver is currently on an indefinite hiatus, and the Eddys are navigating a period of immense personal change. Charlie’s health challenges have forced him to leave his day job, and Lauren has had to shift her career.
They moved from their apartment in Galveston to stay with Lauren’s brother in Houston, close to the hospital. Financially, they’ve had to adjust, exploring health insurance options and relying on Social Security.
Through it all, the support of their local music community has been overwhelming. From benefit concerts to raffles, Galveston and Houston’s music communities have rallied to raise funds and offer support.
The couple has received more than $55,000 from a GoFundMe campaign and local events, including a raffle at Cactus Music, a benefit at Daiquiri Time Out, and several more shows organized by friends and fellow musicians.
Coping with Cancer and Finding Strength in the Community
Lauren and Charlie’s journey is a stark reminder of how cancer can turn life upside down, leaving families to cope with an overwhelming mix of physical, emotional, and financial challenges. But amid the difficulties, the couple has found strength in the support of their friends, family, and fans.
“It was fun when Charlie was coming out of his procedures, to go down the list of names and be like, ‘this person and this person,'” Lauren said. “It was really cool to be able to do that to him while he was in the hospital.”
The support has been invaluable, as Lauren noted the isolation that often comes with facing a serious illness: “It’s hard to know what you need sometimes.” But the outreach and connections have shown the Eddys that they aren’t alone in their fight.
Raudiver’s Resilience and Moving Forward
While Raudiver may be on hiatus for now, Charlie’s health battles and the love and generosity of their community continue to shape their journey.
As they navigate the ups and downs of life after diagnosis, they hold onto the hope that, despite the obstacles, they can find peace, healing, and perhaps even a return to creating music when the time is right.
For now, they remain deeply grateful for the people who have stepped up to support them in this incredibly challenging time.
