Jim Tjoflat, drummer for late-'80s/early-'90s Rock Block monsters Mammy Namms, is recovering after a hellacious week that started with stroke-like symptoms Monday and escalated to emergency brain surgery yesterday. After 12 hours of surgery, a surgeon at Vanderbilt Medical Center removed a 2.5-by-5-inch benign tumor. Tjoflat came through fine, and according to friends the biggest issue now is allowing his brain to resituate itself.
Throughout the ordeal, friends said Tjoflat kept his sense of humor. When former bandmate Michael Crowe asked him if he wanted a beer before surgery, Tjoflat replied, "I'd prefer a gin-and-tonic."
Tjoflat is now resting with his family. To visit or send cards and support—"I don't think Jim is much of a flower guy," says former Mammy Namms guitarist Jeff Harmon—try James Tjoflat, Room 5220 c/o Vanderbilt Medical Center, 1211 Medical Center Dr., Nashville, TN 37232.
