Drummer John Paris of Earth, Wind & Fire wakes up from coma once again

John Paris, the drummer for Earth, Wind & Fire, has reached a new milestone in his recovery. The 58 year old musician has woken from his medically induced coma for the second time after being placed in one earlier this month following a serious medical emergency. While the news is encouraging, Paris still has a long road ahead of him. His medical team has determined that he needs to undergo two major surgeries, meaning he will remain in the intensive care unit longer than originally expected.

According to a statement on behalf of Verdine White, the co founder and bassist of Earth, Wind & Fire who is also involved with the Facebook page Standing for John Paris, this second time waking up went considerably better than the first. When Paris briefly regained consciousness earlier, he had to be sedated again because his condition required it. This time his blood pressure remained stable and his breathing stayed strong, giving doctors the opportunity to thoroughly evaluate his condition and run additional tests. Those tests gave the medical team what they described as a much clearer picture of what Paris needs in order to continue recovering.

White's representative described the past period as a mix of encouraging moments and new challenges, emphasizing that recovery is not a straight line. Paris's wife Kathy Merrick shared the following through the statement: "This journey is definitely a marathon, but JP is fighting every single day and our hope is strong. John has already overcome obstacles that once seemed impossible, and while there is still a long road ahead, each step forward gives everyone around him renewed hope."

Paris's medical troubles came to light on August 6, just before Earth, Wind & Fire was set to perform as part of the joint Sing a Song All Night Long tour with Lionel Richie at the Chase Center in San Francisco. The concert was called off at the last minute, with the band announcing that a band member was dealing with a medical emergency. The identity of the musician involved was deliberately not disclosed at first, and it was only later confirmed by people close to Verdine White that Paris was the one affected.

Two days after the cancelled show, the tour continued with former band member Sonny Emory stepping in for Paris. The band, founded in 1969, brought Paris on board in 2001. The postponed San Francisco show has been rescheduled for September 26. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help the family cover medical costs, and it has already raised more than $82,000 of its $90,000 goal.