There are very few voices that can really relax me out like Randy Travis.
Although he tragically had a stroke many years ago, it didn’t stop him from performing a lovely rendition of “Amazing Grace” in George Jones’ honor, a fellow country music icon.
The iconic performer was backlit in blue and purple during his performance at the Grand Ole Opry, paying tribute to the recently departed George Jones.
Peers like Alan Jackson, Vince Gill, and Travis Tritt joined Travis.
Travis’s wife Mary has openly talked about her husband’s challenging stroke and the support she received from her dedicated admirers.
Randy Travis was sent to a Dallas hospital on a tragic July 2013 day due to problems resulting from viral cardiomyopathy. After having a stroke, he had brain surgery and went into a coma. According to the physicians, the famed performer of gospel and country music had only a 1 or 2 percent chance of surviving.
Consequently, there was little reason for them to keep trying to keep him alive.
Mary Davis Travis, his wife, had the choice to just turn off her husband’s life support and let him go to sleep. She was asked the question directly by the doctors. What was her desire?
She did, however, decide to disregard all accepted norms. Rather than conforming to medical advice, she made the decision to choose an entirely alternative course of action.
Though the doctors may have only given him a 1 to 2% chance of survival, Mary was aware that her husband was a warrior. She just could not let the respirators be turned off.
According to USA Today, May remembers saying, “I prayed hard, ‘God, please let me have him back, any way, shape or form.’”
Even though her husband Randy was essentially little more than skin and bones, Mary never once thought to turn off his machines while he lay in a coma, entangled in a bed of wires.
Randy remained in a coma, entangled in a bed of wires, but Mary never once considered switching his machines off – even though her husband was basically just skin and bones.
Then, one day, the miracle presented itself. Randy woke up.
“We’re blessed. We’re happy to be where we are. We don’t know what God has in store for us at the end of this recovery. Right now, we’re just thankful to be where we are, and we’re singing a different song,” she said. “We’re happy to serve a purpose wherever there is a purpose for us to serve. Of course, one day he would love to be back up on that stage. Right now, we’re just enjoying life, and are very blessed to be where we are.”
Randy has been wheelchair-bound since his stroke but is making progress, and he can walk shorter distances all by himself. He has also taken up music, and his love and affinity for music stand strong.
He learned to walk again, and in 2016, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
”Everyone who knows Randy knows he has had a colorful life. He’s had a tough life at times, but also a beautiful life,” his wife says.
If the below performance is any indication, Travis, who is still struggling with aphasia, has clearly been working and praying to get back to the level of talent he was at before.
Watch Travis’s performance and let us know what you think about his road to recovery!
The fact he did this after his stroke. Is unbelievable. Mr. Travis, you are one talented man! This still sends chills down my spine. You can see and hear the emotion, and I pray for his healing.
