The person who sent the fax needs a big ole' pimp slap!!!:mad: :mad:

I sure hopes that things turn out well for Mr. Vandross. :( :(

ARETHA FRANKLIN HOLDS VIGIL FOR LUTHER
QUEEN OF SOUL ARETHA FRANKLIN
INVITES YOU TO CANDLELIGHT VIGIL AND PRAYER SERVICE
FOR LUTHER VANDROSS

Aretha Franklin invites the city, fans and friends to come out for a candlelight vigil and prayer service for our friend Luther Vandross on Monday, May 19th, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM at the Little Rock Baptist Church, 9000 Woodward and Northern High School Pavilion, 9026 Woodard (off of Clairmont) in Detroit.

Aretha will be joined by the Ebenezer Mass Choir singing songs from the LP, Amazing Grace along with performances by her sons, Eddie and Kecalf. Other special guests will include Rev. Edgar Vann, Rev. Jim Holley, The Four Tops, Orthea Barnes, Rev. Michael Jemison, Ursella Walker and Buddy Budson.

Ladies, don't worry about going home to cook, there will be food there.


A NOTE FROM LUTHER'S MOTHER, MARY
Mrs. Mary Vandross speaks about her son Luther Vandross for the first time since his stroke three weeks ago...

"Since I live in Philadelphia I go to the hospital every two or three days to have a prayer with my son. I hold his hand and pray with him. Right after the stroke, he was in grave danger; it was very touch and go. But I feel that it is just a matter of time before he improves and to me, his appearance gets better daily. It's a very slow process. But I believe there is nothing too hard for God.

I'm overwhelmed by the outpouring of phone calls from people who love Luther. Jesse Jackson calls almost every day to pray with me. There is just a small group of us that are allowed to visit Luther who is still in Intensive Care. His nieces Chanece and Seveda who live in New York come every day so when I'm not there, it's comforting to know they are.

We play music for Luther all day long and we talk to him too. We play all his favorites - Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick, and we play his music too. His friend Fonzi puts the new song Dance With My Father on his pillow - we play that one a lot since Luther told me that he thought that was the best song he ever wrote. In fact, right after he wrote Dance With My Father he called me and he said, 'Mama, I wrote a song for you and daddy, I'm going to bring it and see what you think.'

When I heard it, I felt like I was going to, well, scream. I played it over and over and I cried and cried. I was amazed how well Luther remembered his father, how we used to dance and sing in the house. I was so surprised that at 7 years of age, he could remember what a happy household we had. It was always filled with a lot of music. Luther's father - who was also named Luther - had a beautiful voice and he would sing and sing. That is where Luther got his gift.

Knowing how he loves this new album, I believe Luther would want it to come out now and I'm so grateful that he can get this chance. He is going to recover and when he does, I want him to be greeted with a big success story. He has to recover, he's all I have left, he's my last surviving child."

MARY VANDROSS

I heard that he was the only surviving child. :( And, that her other children had passed away from complications of illnesses such as diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure. I think Luther's father passed away from a complication of diabetes. This is really and truly sad.

I wonder why his mother hasn't moved down to his New York place to stay closer? :confused: If Luther is 52, I"m sure she's up in age and SHOULD be retired. :confused:



:(

I wondered the same thing. If it were me laying up in bed, unconscious for almost a month, you would find my mother planted with ROOOOOOTS beside my bed. Umm and if she ain't retired, then what is Luffa doing? If I had Luther's money, my mom would be retired as well unless she absolutely wanted to work. :confused:

When my aunt had her stroke (this is why I can kind of relate to this whole situation :( and can assess Luther's situation) ), one aunt (retired) uprooted and came down here, plus, my mother took a leave from her job to assist my uncle-in-law with the care of my aunt while she was in the hospital for 2 months. My mother and aunt had the day and night shift, while my uncle had the evening shift after he got off work and the weekend shift to give my mother and her sister "time off". Even when she was in ICU, they stayed at the hospital AROUND the clock.

I've learned in my experience with illnesses/death in families, everyone does not respond or behave the same way. :(

True @ folks' responses to death and illness.

I did not know that Luther was the only living child. I thought he had a brother or sister around.

Once again Thank You CT4 for the information from Mother Vandross.

With tears in my eyes, I didn't know that he is her last surviving child. :(

Her article is a beautiful one. I am looking forward to the day his CD comes out with Dance With My Father. I will be the third person to purchase it! :)

Luther is still in my prayers. I pray for his recovery and that he wakes up feeling refreshed after a long nap. ;)

I have to laugh, to keep me from crying.

On another note, we all deal with our families illnesses and death differently. But I have to agree with my SF's in that I would be by my child's bedside day & night. When he first opens his eyes, he will see me, his mother and not a stranger (doctor, nurse, etc).

Little by little it's coming out....
 

Last night on BET news, the correspondent covering this Ashford and Simpson event (where Luther was scheduled to perform) said that Luther suffered a MASSIVE stroke. :eek: Okay, I've heard and seen many reports and no one has EVER mentioned the word MASSIVE. If this is the case, then this is ultra, ultra serious.

Yeah MASSIVE + the time he was discovered make his condition even more grave.

I heard that on top of everything else he is also suffering from menigitis?

I hope I misunderstood the radio announcer on WBLS. Can someone clear the air for me?

:(

Re: Little by little it's coming out....
 

Early in the coverage, a source described his stroke as a "major bleed", which would explain his prolonged state of unconsciousness.

I can't help but wonder what role his fluctuating weight and dieting may have played in this, if at all? I know he comes from a family of diabetics...I think at least one of his siblings died from the disease.

Isn't he the sole surviving child, too?

Yes he is the sole surviving child.

Dance With My Father
 

They are playing DANCE WITH MY FATHER right now on Music Choice -- this is a great song!!

:)

Does anyone know if Luther's CD is out yet?

I believe it comes out the 10th of this month. (Someone, please correct me if I'm wrong)