Earth, Wind & Fire drummer John Paris reaches major health milestone two months after medical emergency
TheGrio...
Paris has entered a rehabilitation facility following his August hospitalization, but his family is asking for help as he has a long road to recovery.
Following a two-month hospitalization where he had to be placed in a medically induced coma, Earth, Wind and Fire drummer John Paris is on the road to recovery.
Paris entered a rehabilitation facility and has “begun the next phase of his recovery,” according to a GoFundMe established to update fans on his condition and to support his wife, Kathy Merrick. The 58-year-old did not have health insurance at the time of his hospitalization, and according to the latest update, he suffered a spinal cord injury.
“Reaching rehabilitation is a victory,” the update read. “But John still has a long road ahead as he works toward regaining as much independence as possible and, ultimately, returning home.”
On August 6, Paris suffered a medical emergency shortly before EWF was to take the stage on their joint tour with Lionel Richie. The concert was ultimately postponed and, due to his lengthy stay at a San Francisco hospital, the band was forced to cancel the tour. Crews that night responded to an individual who had suffered a “cardiac incident.”
Paris, however, briefly awoke from his medically induced coma and questioned the whereabouts of his wife to “get me out of here.” However, due to rising blood pressure and difficulty breathing, doctors placed him under for a second time.
“Kathy and John are pursuing every available source of assistance, including Medicare and workers’ compensation, but what ultimately will be covered remains unresolved,” the update read. At the time of publishing this story, the GoFundMe had reached $102,000 of its $110,000 goal.
Richie himself has undergone several health events. In August, he checked himself into a St. Louis-area ICU for precautionary reasons, days after feeling dizzy during a tour stop in St. Paul, Minnesota, in June. Richie was released from the hospital, but weeks later, he underwent a heart procedure and postponed the remaining dates of his solo tour as he focused on recovery.