Earth, Wind & Fire drummer John Paris has woken from his medically induced coma for a second time, and this time his vitals have stayed stable enough for doctors to run a full evaluation, his family shared this week. The news brings both relief and a harder reality: Paris will need two major surgeries before he can leave the ICU.
The update was posted to the "Standing for John Paris" Facebook page, maintained by Earth, Wind & Fire co-founder Verdine White's family and friends of Paris and his wife, Kathy Merrick. "Since then, we've experienced another significant milestone - John woke up again. This time, there was encouraging progress," the post read, noting that unlike his first awakening on August 13 - when his blood pressure spiked and he had to be sedated again - his breathing and blood pressure have now held steady.
That stability allowed his medical team to complete testing that clarified what his recovery will require. Merrick described the road ahead in a statement: "This journey is definitely a marathon, but JP is fighting every single day and our hope is strong."
Paris, 58, suffered a medical emergency in early August, just before Earth, Wind & Fire was set to open for Lionel Richie at San Francisco's Chase Center. The cause has not been made public. The band's representatives say his recovery "isn't a straight line," and the family continues to ask for prayer and patience as they navigate the next stage.
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