Earth, Wind & Fire star John Paris’ family reveals ‘frightening’ reason for two-month hospitalisation

John Paris was rushed to hospital following a cardiac incident (Picture: Chris McKay/Getty Images) The family of Earth, Wind & Fire star John Paris has revealed ‘frightening’ details of his hospitalisation.

Paris was hospitalised in August after suffering a ‘cardiac incident’, and was put into a medically induced coma.

The band had been due to perform with Lionel Richie at San Francisco’s Chase Center when the 58-year-old drummer took a turn, leading to emergency responders taking Paris away from the venue in a critical condition.

Now, his relatives have shared that he suffered a spinal cord injury and has entered a rehabilitation centre.

Having launched a GoFundMe to help cover Paris’s medical bills and ‘road to recovery’, over $100,000 has been raised.

In an update shared on the page, his loved ones, including wife Kathy Merrick, have explained he is entering ‘phase two’ of his recovery upon reaching a significant milestone.

‘After more than two months in the hospital, we have wonderful news: John has left the hospital and begun the next phase of his recovery in rehabilitation,’ a message began.

‘This is a milestone we have prayed for — but it is not the end of John’s journey. In many ways, a new one is just beginning.’

The comment added that the fundraiser was initially established with the immediate goal of allowing Paris’s wife to remain by his side in San Francisco ‘while maintaining the living, travel and household expenses that continued while they were away from their home in Los Angeles’.

Thanking donors, the family referred to it as a ‘frightening chapter’, then addressed something they ‘did not publicly discuss’ at the start.

‘John did not have medical insurance when this medical emergency occurred,’ the statement revealed. ‘John’s prolonged hospitalisation, spinal cord injury, rehabilitation and continuing medical needs have created a financial situation far beyond what we anticipated when Standing With John began.

‘Kathy and John are pursuing every available source of assistance, including Medicare and workers’ compensation, but what ultimately will be covered remains unresolved.

They declared that ‘reaching rehabilitation is a victory’, but Paris still has ‘a long road ahead’ as he strives to ‘regain as much independence as possible’ and return home.

Adding that Paris and his wife have endured ‘the hardest period of their lives’, they requested that fans of his music ‘stand with them again’.

‘If you’re able to donate, any amount matters. If you cannot donate, sharing John’s story can be just as important. Help us reach the next person who may be able to help.

‘John has spent a lifetime giving us music. Now let’s help John on the long road home.’

In August, the wife of band member Verdine White, Shelly, penned an update on Facebook, informing fans that Paris had spoken to his wife after waking briefly from an induced coma.

‘Over the past several days, we have intentionally kept many details of John’s condition private out of respect for him and his family,’ she wrote.

‘As information has begun to circulate publicly, we feel it’s important that everyone hears the story directly from us so there is no confusion about where things stand today.’

She explained how Earth, Wind & Fire’s tour manager, Toshi, was there to support Paris when ‘everything unfolded’, praising her ‘steady presence, care, and support’ during the critical first moments.

‘When John arrived at the hospital, his doctors placed him into an induced coma while they worked to provide the critical care he needed.

‘From the very beginning, Kathy and daughter Kyla remained by his side.’

Shelly recalled the moment ‘no one in the room will ever forget’ when Paris opened his eyes, asking immediately for his doting partner.

‘He looked around the room and quietly asked, “Where’s Kathy?” Once he saw her, you could feel the relief that swept through everyone.’

Paris then looked to a friend and said, ‘Get me outta here, man!’, assuring them that he still had his ‘wonderfully wicked sense of humour’.

The moment of consciousness was, however, short-lived, as Paris’s blood pressure began rising and he struggled to breathe, causing doctors to sedate him once more.

A medical team continued monitoring him closely in a bid to determine the ‘safest path forward’.

Paris joined Earth, Wind & Fire as a drummer in 2001. His bandmates include Philip Bailey, Myron McKinley, Oshun Shango Oshunde, Morris O’Connor, Serg Dimitrijevic, B David Whitworth, and Ralph Johnson, with their music spanning multiple genres – such as jazz, R&B, soul, funk, and disco – and selling over 90 million records worldwide.

He has played on several albums, including Illumination (2005), Now, Then & Forever (2013), and Holiday (2014).

The September hitmakers, who rose to fame in the 1970s, are currently on the road, with their cancelled show alongside Richie ultimately rescheduled.

At the time, they announced that there had been a ‘medical emergency’ and apologised for the ‘unexpected change’.

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Get plugged into the week’s must-watch shows, unmissable moments, and expert reviews with Metro TV Editor Sabrina Barr.

Get plugged into the week’s must-watch shows, unmissable moments, and expert reviews with Metro TV Editor Sabrina Barr.