WHEN Northern Ireland’s top Dolly Parton tribute star Donna Stewart was ordered to stop performing by her doctor she was devastated.
In four decades of entertaining the Co Down singer had never cancelled a show and suddenly she was faced with not only having to cancel a number of gigs but coming to terms with the fact that she may never perform again.
A well known musical theatre star, producer, director and singer, in 2016 writhing in pain and unable to move Donna, now 47, was hospitalised.
Her back, which she had always had trouble with, was crumbling. It was deteriorating at such a pace that consultants believed prolonged performances could see her confined to a wheelchair or using a walking aid before she was 50.
Having been diagnosed with M.E, a long-term chronic illness and neurological condition that causes symptoms affecting many body systems, Donna had already created a performing schedule and show to compensate for her health problems.
But faced with the thought of having to quit completely was something she wasn’t prepared for mentally or emotionally.
And the worst was yet to come.
Donna revealed: “My shows were very fast paced, two and a half hours of being ‘Dolly’ is a lot of fun, but exhausting. I pride myself on attention to detail, so I wear real hair wigs, custom made replica costumes and the trademark six-inch heels and more. After the shows I had a good chat with the audience and would wait around to get photos with them.
“This meant I was on my feet for up to four hours. It wasn’t good for my back that had given me trouble since I was 17 years old.
“Soon, I was pre-empting the pain. I was taking very strong painkillers before my shows just to get through them and I was suffering terribly afterwards. My performances began to suffer as well, I wasn’t enjoying them anymore. I began to dread the shows and I noticed I was also forgetting words of songs I’d known for years and my timing wasn’t as good as it use to be. I put it down to the strong tablets. But I had to continue to take them or I wouldn’t be able to get through the gig.
“My last show before my enforced break was such a high, my band were amazing. In my opinion, some of Northern Ireland’s best musicians. The crowd were brilliant, many in their pink cow-boy hats and the atmosphere was electric. I watched videos of the night with pride. But the low followed.
“I came off stage that night with excruciating pain I could hardly endure. A hard decision had to be made. My fiance, Niall Toman, said he couldn’t watch me struggle like this anymore and I agreed I would cut down on gigs.”
Although Donna was determined to continue to perform, fate stepped in a dealt her a final blow.
“Someone out there knew that slowing down wasn’t going to be enough for me, the symptoms were getting worse and much more serious. I was being hospitalilsed due to illness and some of my symptoms were worrying the doctors.
“I was sent for an MRI scan of my brain where it was discovered I have a brain aneurysm. I could get the aneurysm clipped or coiled, which could be a roaring success or give me a stroke. People have had to learn to read, write, speak and walk again after the operation.
“On the other hand, I could let this thing stay in my head. It might never erupt. But it might and if it does it might be OK or it might kill me. Simple as that.
“I was advised by neurosurgeons to get the aneurysm monitored annually and if it grows it has to go. Thankfully it has been looked at recently and is still the same as the first MRI.”
The exploratory tests didn’t end there. A specialist consultant insisted Donna needed a full MRI scan of her back.
“It was just getting worse. I was told I have degenerative disc disease, I have a cyst on my spine and osteoarthritis of my spine.
“Everything is difficult. Walking, standing and even sitting can be painful. I am now on the waiting list for a new procedure that might help.”
Donna has been impersonating the Queen of Country Dolly Parton for so many years after two years off she decided she couldn’t stay away from the stage any longer.
Now, she’s back and bigger than ever with a newly revived show The Dolly & Friends Show.
“I started performing as Dolly in 2011, it was just meant to be for one night at a friend’s birthday. But this lead to a stream of bookings” said Donna, adding: “Giving it all up was the hardest thing I ever did, but for some reason I couldn’t let go of my costumes, equipment, social media sites and more. I think deep down I knew I couldn’t give it up forever.
“Being without my creative outlet of singing and performing I became severely depressed, I put on five stone and I was a shadow of myself.
“I knew that had I have let it go on any longer I would have deteriorated much quicker than I had been when I was performing.
“I decided I needed to find a way to get back on the stage. I didn’t want to let my chronic illness or health conditions stop me from doing something I loved.”
With the help of her partner Niall and friends Anne McAteer, Laura Hanna and Dale Armstrong (aka The Dolly Birds) Donna has made a successful return to the stage.
However, this time it’s perfectly engineered and choreographed around her capabilities whilst providing a high-energy, vibrant Dolly show for the audience.
She explained: “Now we’re known as Dolly’s Rockin Country Club. The show is still fast paced and full of floor filling songs and there’s plenty of Dolly, but now it’s much more a team effort.
“I have the set arranged that I play my custom replica guitars and banjos every other song, which also sneakily gives me an excuse to sit. The show looks totally normal to the audience. But it’s carefully engineered to give me breaks and chances to rest my back.
“Yes, I have a mangled back and a ticking time bomb for a brain, but there are people worse off than me who don’t give up, so why should I.
“I’m never going to give up being Dolly and performing live on stage because I have a wonderful supportive network of friends and family who help me plan and pace my life and who are there when things get rough and I fall to pieces after a show.
“No matter what, when I’m on stage, it’s Dolly the audience gets, not Donna with the dodgy back and brain aneurysm.”
Donna will be performing with Dolly’s Rockin’ Country Club on Friday November 30 (The Stables, Groomsport), Thursday January 10 (Cabaret Supper Club, Belfast) and Saturday January 19 (Crumlin Road Gaol, Belfast).
For more and further dates go to www.facebook.com/DollyPartonNI