SAN FRANCISCO — John Paris, the longtime drummer for Earth, Wind & Fire, is taking the next step in his recovery more than two months after he suffered a medical emergency prior to a show in San Francisco and was rushed to an area hospital.

In an update Thursday afternoon, the organizer of a GoFundMe for Paris and his wife, Kathy Merrick, said he “has left the hospital and begun the next phase of his recovery in rehabilitation.”

“This is a milestone we have prayed for — but it is not the end of John’s journey,” the organizer, Mashelle Clark, said. “In many ways, a new one is just beginning.”

Clark also revealed Paris did not have medical insurance when the emergency happened.

“John’s prolonged hospitalization, spinal cord injury, rehabilitation and continuing medical needs have created a financial situation far beyond what we anticipated when Standing With John began,” Clark said.

“Kathy and John are pursuing every available source of assistance, including Medicare and workers’ compensation,” she continued, “but what ultimately will be covered remains unresolved.”

As of Friday, the online fundraiser had amassed about $102,000 of its $110,000 goal.

Paris suffered the emergency on Aug. 6, just before Earth, Wind & Fire was slated to perform with Lionel Richie at Chase Center as part of their co-headlining Sing a Song All Night Tour.

Concert organizers pulled the plug on the gig moments before its scheduled start time.

The show was rescheduled, with a drummer set to fill in for Paris, but both it and the tour were ultimately canceled after Richie experienced his own medical issues.

The GoFundMe initially helped Merrick, a founding member of Honey Cone, stay at Paris’ bedside and covered travel and household expenses while they were away from their home in Los Angeles.

“Reaching rehabilitation is a victory,” said Clark, the organizer. “But John still has a long road ahead as he works toward regaining as much independence as possible and, ultimately, returning home.”

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