Randy Travis Expected to Make ‘Full Recovery,’ Friend Says
After Randy Travis suffered a life-threatening stroke in 2013, no one knew what his recovery would look like -- or if he'd recover at all. However, according to a recent update from Chuck Lipps, one of Travis' good friends, the prognosis is incredibly optimistic.
Lipps is the vice president of RMA Presents, a West Virginia-based concert promotion group that has worked with country stars such as Florida Georgia Line, Trace Adkins, Dustin Lynch and more. He spent some time with Travis in December and tells the Parkersburg News and Sentinel, “He can talk … say words, but no sentences," adding that Travis is “alert and knew me.”
Although Lipps initially planned to visit his old friend for 30 minutes, that short time turned into a full day, during which they looked at old photo albums and reminisced. Not only was Travis alert, but he also was able to walk laps around his Texas home without assistance. Later on, the Lippses went out to dinner with Travis and his wife Mary, and they arrived home to a message from Mary who said that Travis fully enjoyed the evening.
“I think Randy will make a total recovery,” Lipps states. “It was an amazing day. I am proud of him. He is lucky to be alive.”
Though Travis certainly has obstacles to overcome and a long recovery ahead of him, he has been showing immense progress, even surprising fans with a few public appearances, the most recent of which took place in September, when he made his first return to the Grand Ole Opry. The legendary singer also appeared at a Neal McCoy concert in February of 2014, and he was able to attend the 2015 ACM Awards as well.
"It is my prayer that, with continued healing, one day soon, I will be back on that stage exchanging music with my fans … my friends, who with God’s amazing grace, have brought me this far," Travis wrote in a letter to his fans after the ACMs. "As I work through music/speech/occupational/physical therapy, it is my hope that my songs of yesterday continue to touch your life in some way."
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