Randy Travis Meets With Tennessee Lawmakers About Stroke Awareness
Randy Travis and his wife Mary met with Tennessee state lawmakers on Wednesday (Feb. 8), to discuss stroke awareness, education, prevention and treatment.
According to the Tennessean, Travis and his wife addressed a meeting of the Tennessee Senate Health and Welfare Committee for about 20 minutes; Mary talked about her husband's own recovery experience, and offered words of encouragement to others who have suffered strokes.
"I speak to family members and those in the medical field who are challenged with stroke patients to not ever give up," she said, "don’t steal that hope, and believe there’s always another sunrise and that giant baby steps make a big difference.”
Since his stroke in 2013, Travis has continued, slowly, but surely, to recover and regain some of his abilities. The country icon is still working to regain conversation skills, but he has re-learned to sing, at least a little bit; he remembers his song’s lyrics and, with his left hand, can form chords on his guitar, though he’s still regaining the use of his right arm.
Randy Travis Through the Years
“There is a perfectionist in him that knows he’s not singing exactly like he used to that keeps him from enjoying it like I wish he would,” Travis’ wife said in a recent interview. “I know the world when they hear him, they can tell it’s Randy Travis, and the more he does it, the better it’s going to get.”
At the end of their meeting with Tennessee lawmakers, Sen. Doug Overbey thanked the couple for attending.
“You’re raising awareness, and that helps everybody in this state by stepping forward and being here with your testimony,” Overbey said. “Our love for you and your music will go on 'forever and ever, amen.'”
On Wednesday night, a superstar lineup of artists — Garth Brooks, Chris Young, Travis Tritt, Scotty McCreery, Joe Nichols, Alabama, Kenny Rogers, Rodney Atkins, Chris Janson, Jamey Johnson, Montgomery Gentry, Michael Ray, Ricky Skaggs, Tanya Tucker, Wynonna Judd, Alison Krauss and many more — came together at Nashville’s Bridgestone Auditorium for the 1 Night. 1 Place. 1 Time: A Heroes and Friends Tribute to Randy Travis concert. At the end of the event, Travis led the night's performers in a sing-a-long of "Amazing Grace" and "Will the Circle Be Unbroken."
See Photos From the Randy Travis Tribute Concert
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