John D. Yorke Fund

Many of you know John Yorke from his career doing lighting and sound in the music industry, or as a writer on Facebook. He has been blessed to work with an amazing number of artists beginning at the age of sixteen in the summer of 1979 as a stagehand.

Those of you who know John personally know that his priority has always been working with good people, famous or unknown, before working for profit. He is just as well-known helping develop bands with little or no budget as he is working with artists such as Guns N Roses and Def Leppard.

In July 2009 after working with two industry giants, Judas Priest and then Elvis Costello, he was rushed to the hospital with a high fever and terrible abdominal pain. His intestines were bleeding out. A similar genetic condition had killed his mother years earlier. Doctors removed about one and a half feet of intestines and reconnected the rest, sewed him up and told him he would recover. Good as new.

In 2011 the wound from the surgery split open. A massive incisional hernia. Doctors implanted a synthetic mesh from the bottom of his ribcage down past his belly button. The operation required 33 stainless steel staples to close the wound. It took 90 days to recover.

Long story short, since early 2012 John has been experiencing all of the symptons associated with mesh failure. This is not uncommon. There are many documented cases of the coating on the hernia mesh implants causing chronic infection and being recalled from the market.

The crazy thing is when the FDA orders a manufacturer to stop selling a mesh product because of the documented harm it caused its recipients, the manufacturer stops selling it, but is under no obligation to inform people who have the implant.

John has been suffering from all the reported symptoms, pains, fevers, all of the symptoms of hernia mesh failure and infection, plus a recurrence of the original incisional hernia that the mesh was supposed to repair in 2011.

John worked over 800 shows at BB King's in two and a half years while struggling with these symptoms. He wore a velcro weight lifting belt which provided some relief while often working 60 hours a week, not realizing the severity or nature of his condition. He powered his way through everything, the pain, the recurring fevers and weakness, serving the artists he loved and doing the best he could. He was afraid that if people knew of his condition, he might lose his job. He might lose everything he owned and loved. He gave himself to his work. It may not have been the smartest thing to do, but he focused on his profession and surviving day to day.

Recently John was offered a 25-city tour. Understanding the nature of that commitment, John sought a medical evaluation, and learned that his condition is likely to be caused by the hernia mesh implant and its coating. It is likely that the defective mesh will have to be removed. He had to decline the tour and has retained legal counsel to begin the process of having the corrective surgery paid for by the mesh manufacturer.

Currently, John has been unemployed for months. He owes back rent on the rehearsal studio he shares and lives in, and on the storage facility which holds all his worldly possessions, his guitars, and his extensive collection of rock-n-roll memorabilia from his 38-year career in the music industry.  He plans on selling some of his collection to offset his expenses while awaiting surgery, but is currently locked out till the storage facility debt is resolved.

Many of you know John because of his candid and often humorous writing on Facebook. Many people have suggested he start a Gofundme page to help him take time to compile his works for publication. John has always looked at his writing as a free, public, independent voice to entertain and perhaps educate artists and fans about the music industry.

A book is in the works, but right now, John needs help covering his expenses while his attorney works to secure him compensation and healthcare to make him well again.