Rebuilding From The Ashes

On September 16th, I was pulled from the second story of my house by the Houston Fire Department. After almost 2 weeks in the burn unit at Memorial Hermann I am finally able to breathe and walk on my own again due to the grace of god and the support of my wonderful family and friends. Unfortunately, what the fire didn’t take, robbers stole the next day.

I’m sad to say that my entire recording studio was ransacked, and the dobro and mandolins that I used on all The Damn Quails and Whiskey Myers tunes over the years are just brunt pieces of wood and steel now. I’ve tried to not ask for much in my adult life, but I don’t have much left to lose right now. My doctors told me that if I had been pulled from the house even 5 minutes later that I wouldn’t have made it, so I’m taking some time to figure out exactly why I’m still here.

With the stay in the burn unit, loss of gear, and other unexpected expenses I have found myself in a hole that I am struggling to get out of. If you can spare even a dollar or two to help cover some of these costs it would mean the world to me. I have another 45 days of intensive treatment before I can go back to work again and any donation would help a lot.

My goal is to overcome the neurological damage caused by my lung and kidney failure and start something fresh. Music hasn’t been a big part of my life since I left Whiskey Myers three years ago and this near death experience has really opened my eyes to the hole that left in my life. I’ve loved all the rowdy nights and those shows that will stick in my memories forever. I hope that if you were a part of those nights that you can help me restart that journey. It’s been a tough year and a half for everyone so I understand if that’s not possible right now. If so, all I ask is for your prayers for recovery, guidance, and inspiration as I begin this new chapter of my life. I’m a fighter and there’s nothing that will stop me from getting through this. Sometimes life just turns into a sad country song, and all you can do is just hum along.

(Photo Credit: Kim Brian, Larry Joe Taylor Fest)