A new GoFundMe is raising money for venerated saxophonist Ron Holloway after the frequent Gov’t Mule guest discovered he has a rare condition that mimics dementia. The 71-year-old saxophonist is a legend of the Washington, D.C. jazz community, immortalized in the D.C. Jazz Heroes Mural in D.C.’s Shaw Neighborhood, and has played with Dizzy Gillespie, Gil Scott-Heron, Susan Tedeschi, Warren Haynes Band, and many more.
In February, Holloway was hospitalized due to complications from an unrelated injury when doctors realized that he hadn’t been eating and his body wasn’t processing nutrition. Doctors discovered a cancerous tumor and also diagnosed Holloway with Wernicke’s disease, a rare condition that mimics dementia and severely impacts his memory and cognitive function.
According to the Alzheimer’s Society, “About 25% of Wernicke–Korsakoff patients make a full recovery with treatment, 50% make a partial recovery, and 25% require long-term care.” The good news is that they believe the surgery to remove the cancer was successful. The bad news is that the costs of the surgeries, hospital stays, and visits to rehab centers have already grown to astronomical heights for a lifelong musician without comprehensive health insurance.
Holloway’s longtime bandmate Jenny Langer set up the GoFundMe page and will transfer the funds to Ron’s stepdaughter Natalie Suresch who is coordinating the medical bills while he is unable to do so. Langer has set a $200,000 goal for the GoFundMe for $160,000+ in expected medical costs by the time Holloway is released (Ron has gone from hospitals to rehabs since February) and $40,000 for personal expenses for the first two years since they do not know when or if Ron will be able to return to the stage.
“Ron has always given everything to the music—and to us,” Warren Haynes wrote on social media with a link to the GoFundMe. “His saxophone has lit up stages with Dizzy Gillespie, Gov’t Mule, Susan Tedeschi, Warren Haynes Band, and so many more. But beyond the music, he’s one of the most generous, soulful people I’ve ever known.
“If you’ve ever been moved by Ron’s playing… if you’ve ever seen him light up a room with a solo, or bring a crowd to their feet… please consider donating to his recovery fund.
Every dollar helps with medical bills, rehab, and the long road ahead. Let’s show up for Ron the way he’s shown up for so many of us over the years.”
See the full post from Haynes below and donate to the GoFundMe and find more information here. Watch Ron Holloway do his thing with Gov’t Mule and Sonny Landreth on a cover of the Allman Brothers Band‘s “Dreams” from Island Exodus 6 in 2015. Get well soon, Ron.
Gov’t Mule, Ron Holloway, Sonny Landreth — “Dreams” (Allman Brothers Band) — Negril, Jamaica — 1/17/15
[Video: TonyFranciosi]
