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STORY
Singer Gordon Lightfoot heads home after three months in hospital
ANGELA PACIENZA
Canadian Press
Friday, December 13, 2002
CREDIT: (CP Archive/AP/John Russell)
Singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot performs in this 2001 file photo. (CP Archive/AP/John Russell)
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TORONTO (CP) - Legendary singer Gordon Lightfoot is resting comfortably after being released from hospital this week, more than three months after developing a serious abdominal illness.
"He's out of the hospital. Obviously he's well enough to do that but he's on a strong road to recovery," Barry Harvey, who's managed Lightfoot's career for 20 years, said Friday. "He's in quite good spirits. He's up and walking around. He's doing really well, considering where he's come from." Lightfoot, known for writing songs like Sundown and If You Could Read My Mind, was flown to Hamilton's McMaster University Medical Centre on Sept. 8 with internal bleeding from a rare weakness in an abdominal blood vessel. He was released Thursday.
The surgeon who operated on Lightfoot, who turned 64 last month, said he was pleased to see the singer released.
"Everyone involved in his care is thrilled to see Mr. Lightfoot move on to the next phase of his recovery," Dr. Michael Marcaccio, a gastrointestinal specialist, said in a statement. "Mr. Lightfoot's physical fitness and personal strength have helped him overcome a life-threatening condition."
Since his admission to hospital, Lightfoot and his family - wife Elizabeth and two children under 14 - have asked that details about his condition remain confidential.
"He's requesting his privacy especially with Christmas coming up," explained Harvey, who spoke with Lightfoot on Friday morning.
The manager said it's still too soon to know when Lightfoot will be able to resume working. He was to perform in his home town of Orillia, Ont., the day after he was admitted to hospital.
"He's quite positive about his recovery but it's going to take some time. He's the only one that can really decide when and where and how and if he's going to talk about it and when he's ready to resume his activities."
The illness forced Lightfoot, whose accolades include 17 Juno awards, the Order of Canada and the Governor General's Performing Arts Award, to cancel a string of performances in Canada and the U.S.
© Copyright 2002 The Canadian Press