Randy Travis Hospitalized: Singer Alert, Awake, and Talking After Brain Surgery for Stroke
Gospel singer Randy Travis is finally awake, alert, and interacting after recovering from emergency brain surgery to combat a stroke, doctors say.
However, Travis' recovery time will take months according to USA Today.
"[Travis] did suffer an acute viral illness over the past three weeks, but that seems to have tipped over a more chronic condition," says cardiac surgeon Michael Mack in a Youtube video update. "He has what's called idiopathic cardiomyopathy, which means he has scarring of his heart muscle that is causing his heart to be weak and not able to support his circulation without help of either medical devices or medication."
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Reports say the singer's brain swelling is down, and although he is still on ventilator they hope to wean him off in the next couple of weeks.
"He is awake and alert, interacting with his family and friends and beginning to start doing some early physical therapy," says doctor Gary Erwin according to USA Today. "We anticipate it will take months to recover from the stroke."
The 54-year-old has viral cardiomyopathy, which is a weakening of the heart muscles due to infection, according to People.
"Viral cardiomyopathy can be caused by 30-plus different viruses, but it's almost impossible to pinpoint which virus it is," said Dr. Ramin Oskoui, a cardiologist and internal medicine specialist in Washington, reports CNN. "Hospitals use viral cardiomyopathy as a 'catch all' diagnosis."
Travis initially thought he had a cold before being airlifted to a hospital after his condition rapidly deteriorated, reports FOX News.
"Their mother passed away at an early age with her heart, so it is like these boys are following right in their footsteps. My prayers are with them. That's all I can say right now," Travis' sister-in-law said, reports FOX.
Travis canceled a scheduled performance on Wednesday at the Deadwood Mountain Grand in Deadwood, South Dakota.
