At one point, medical teams estimated he had only a 1% chance of making it through the night. The stroke, triggered by complications from congestive heart failure, attacked not only his body but also the part of his brain that controlled his speech and singing. As a result, Randy developed aphasia, a condition that affects language, communication, and vocal ability.
For a man whose voice was his signature, his gift, his livelihood — the diagnosis was devastating. But the physical challenges were only part of the struggle. During his extended recovery, Randy faced multiple infections that made his situation even more dire — infections like staph and Serratia that threatened to undo the fragile progress he had made.
