Paris has been hospitalized since August 6th
Earth, Wind & Fire drummer John Paris has been sedated since his hospitalization nearly two weeks ago in San Francisco. Paris suffered a medical emergency just before the band was set to perform at the Chase Center on August 6th, forcing the band to cancel. The San Francisco Fire Department transported Paris to a local hospital in critical condition following a cardiac incident that occurred around 5:30 that evening.
Details of his condition have been kept private until now. The band has shared an official update on his journey on a Facebook page titled “Standing for John Paris.”
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, his wife, Kathy, and daughter, Kyla, remained by his side, joined daily by one of his closest friends, Eddie M.
The steady vigil took an unexpected turn when John briefly regained consciousness.
“Then came a moment no one in the room will ever forget. John opened his eyes. He looked around the room and quietly asked, ‘Where’s Kathy?’ Once he saw her, you could feel the relief that swept through everyone. Then he looked over at Eddie with that wonderfully wicked sense of humor that everyone who knows John has come to love and said, ‘Get me outta here, man!’” the update reads.
For those gathered in the room, the exchange brought an overwhelming wave of comfort. Tears, laughter, and hugs filled the space as family and friends celebrated seeing the quick-witted man they knew and loved.
However, the uplifting moment was brief. Shortly after waking, John’s blood pressure began to rise, and he experienced severe difficulty breathing. To protect his body and allow him to stabilize, his medical team made the critical decision to place him back under sedation.
“Today, John remains resting under sedation while his medical team carefully monitors him and determines the safest path forward,” the statement continues. “Although this has been an emotional roller coaster, there have continued to be small moments that give those closest to him hope.”
His team confirms that Paris “appears to show slight responses when music is played,” but his “journey is far from over. There is so much hope that surrounds him.”
A GoFundMe campaign was launched last week to support Paris and his family with medical and living expenses following his sudden hospitalization.
The group has assured fans that tickets will be honored for a rescheduled date or refunded for their Sing a Song All Night Long Tour with Lionel Richie.