Singer/songwriter has been ICU for more than a week
Last week, folk singer/songwriter John Prine was admitted to the hospital with COVID-19. His situation has been critical and he has been in ICU for the past nine days. His wife, Fiona — who tested positive for COVID-19 but has recovered — shares an update on his condition stating she can’t currently be with him due to the virus.
“He is receiving excellent medical care and being treated with kindness and compassion by the entire team looking after him day and night. I cannot be with him which makes this nightmare all the more distressing,” she says in a series of tweets.
She continues, “As you know, John was put on a ventilator last Saturday. He still needs quite a bit of help with his breathing. Like many patients currently in ICU beds all around the world, John has pneumonia in both lungs. He has also developed some peripheral issues that are being treated with meds, including antibiotics. He is very ill and yet I remain hopeful that he can continue to fight this devastating virus and come home where we can care for him. I don’t have the words to adequately Thank You all for the outpouring of love and prayers that John and our family have received this last week. Please continue to send Love, Prayers and Positive Energy to John. He needs us now more than ever. John loves you and I love you too.”
This is John’s 8th day in ICU . He is receiving excellent medical care and being treated with kindness and compassion by the entire team looking after him day and night. I cannot be with him which makes this nightmare all the more distressing…
— Fiona Whelan Prine (@FionaPrine) April 3, 2020
Prine was initially tested when his wife was, but his results came back “indeterminate.” However, the couple isolated themselves out of an abundance of caution since Prine’s age of 73 put him at a higher risk of contracting it.
Prine is one of many celebrities and musicians who’ve contracted the virus. He follows Jackson Browne, Bon Jovi keyboardist David Bryan, Oli Lane, Asleep at The Wheel’s Ray Benson, and 90’s country star Joe Diffie, who passed away last weekend from the virus, among others. Actor Tom Hanks and wife and singer Rita Wilson were the first celebrities to announce their diagnoses. They contracted the deadly virus while filming a movie in Australia and returned home to Los Angeles after being quarantined for 14 days.