Luther Vandross Wakes Up From Coma
Singer Suffered Stroke In April
POSTED: 4:53 p.m. EDT June 5, 2003
UPDATED: 7:30 a.m. EDT June 6, 2003
There's a positive medical development about singer Luther Vandross.
A spokeswoman for his label, J Records, said Vandross recently
came out of the coma he's been in since suffering a stroke April 16 at his New York home.
People magazine quoted family and friends saying Vandross can mouth words and nod his head. He can't try to speak yet because he still has a tracheotomy tube in his throat. They also said he has begun mild physical therapy.
According to The Associated Press, the singer's mother, Mary Vandross said this week, "Luther is going to be just fine. This is God's way of saying, 'You're tired.'"
Vandross, 52, had been listed in critical but stable condition at Weill Cornell Medical College of New York Presbyterian Hospital.
Two weeks later, Lois Najarian, a spokeswoman for Vandross' label J Records, said the singer was "minimally responsive" since he had not opened his eyes or spoken since suffering the stroke.
No other details were available about Vandross' current condition. Najarian said in April that the an emergency tracheotomy that was performed on Vandross to help him breathe, did not damage his vocal chords.
One family member quoted by People says Vandross is on his way to recovery. But another warned that until they know how much brain damage he suffered, they need to be "cautiously optimistic."
The Grammy Award-winning soul singer is known for such ballads as "Here and Now" and "A House is Not a Home."
His new album "Dance With My Father" -- a tribute to his late father -- will be released Tuesday.
A spokeswoman for his label, J Records, said Vandross recently
came out of the coma he's been in since suffering a stroke April 16 at his New York home.
People magazine quoted family and friends saying Vandross can mouth words and nod his head. He can't try to speak yet because he still has a tracheotomy tube in his throat. They also said he has begun mild physical therapy.
According to The Associated Press, the singer's mother, Mary Vandross said this week, "Luther is going to be just fine. This is God's way of saying, 'You're tired.'"
Vandross, 52, had been listed in critical but stable condition at Weill Cornell Medical College of New York Presbyterian Hospital.
Two weeks later, Lois Najarian, a spokeswoman for Vandross' label J Records, said the singer was "minimally responsive" since he had not opened his eyes or spoken since suffering the stroke.
No other details were available about Vandross' current condition. Najarian said in April that the an emergency tracheotomy that was performed on Vandross to help him breathe, did not damage his vocal chords.
One family member quoted by People says Vandross is on his way to recovery. But another warned that until they know how much brain damage he suffered, they need to be "cautiously optimistic."
The Grammy Award-winning soul singer is known for such ballads as "Here and Now" and "A House is Not a Home."
His new album "Dance With My Father" -- a tribute to his late father -- will be released Tuesday.
Previous Story:
- May 12, 2003: Vandross' Mom Expects Son To Recover
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