On June 21st, Ronnie McDowell took the stage at a music festival in Pennsylvania for what seemed like just another performance. But to the shock of fans and his family, the country singer only made it a couple of songs into his set when he apparently suffered a stroke. Quickly getting McDowell to a local hospital, doctors revealed his carotid artery was 70 percent blocked. And over the last few weeks, McDowell’s family continued to keep fans updated about his health. Well, now, it seemed that the singer himself decided to share the most recent update.
Videos by American Songwriter
To the surprise of many, McDowell not only shared an update on Monday, but it came in the form of a video. Having undergone surgery just last week, the singer was up and walking—and not in the hospital. Posting a video on Facebook, the singer smiled as he declared, “Well, as you can see, I’m still walking.” He even offered a glimpse at his incision. “I’ve still got swelling and it looks like a shark bit me.”
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Ronnie McDowell Faced A Few Complications During Recent Surgery
While thanking fans for their continued support, the post was flooded with comments. “Good you are out but take it easy no crazy dirty dancing moves.haha” Another person added, “Fantastic!! Love that smile!! So glad you are doing well!! Enjoy doing this show in Alabama!! Thank you God for watching over Ronnie and his Drs. And giving him good health!! Take care!!!”
Although ready to get back to the stage, McDowell’s surgery came with a few mishaps. Since his stroke, his sons, Tyler Dean McDowell and Ronnie McDowell Jr., have continued to keep fans updated. And while ecstatic to see their father on his feet again, Tyler explained, “Today was quite the chapter. Tears, shaking, prayers—some shared with family, others alone. A couple of times, I walked outside, because everything unfolding made me believe he was gone. I’m not sure it’s appropriate for me to dive into specifics just yet—especially since we’re still sorting through them ourselves. But from what I understand, there was a slight complication, likely related to the blood thinners.”
With McDowell surrounded by professionals, the obstacle was quickly handled, and as the video above showed, the singer was both active and positive. Although returning to the stage in a few days, he revealed that the doctors told him, “Do not let the girls get your heart rate up this weekend.”
(Photo by Erika Goldring/FilmMagic)
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