James Roberson's medical fund
Donation protected
James is a great musician and long-time friend.
James' major musical jobs include performing as the principal bassoonist with Opera in the Heights and the Corpus Christ Symphony Orchestra. He also plays bassoon and contrabassoon with the Houston Symphony, Houston Ballet, Kingwood Chorale and with many other musical organizations in the Houston area.
In early April 2016, he began experiencing upper-back pains that he described as feeling like a severe burning or tearing. After believing that he might have heartburn and relaxing for a while, he realized that something was very wrong and he drove himself to a local emergency room facility.
It didn't take the ER personnel long to realize that he had some major cardio issue and ordered an ambulance to take him directly to the Houston Medical Center where there are many world-class physicians and facilities. Upon arriving, he was taken directly to emergency surgery, where grafts were made for his ascending and transverse aorta. He had a condition called an aortic disection; basically his aorta was about to burst.
This is a rare condition and has a pretty bleak survival rate. James has beaten the odds and is proceeding with his recovery. He and I worked his first return to music last night with him playing bassoon 2/contra for the Bernstein Mass and the final movement of the Beethoven 9th Symphony. He sounded as great as always.
But earlier that day James had received his medical bills. He had privately purchased medical insurance, but at $1000/month it was just too expensive and he had cancelled it just a few months before.
The wonderful doctors and facilities in the Houston Medical Center are not cheap; the bills total just over $300,000. There is no way that he can afford this and he's too shy to ask for help, so I am establishing this fund-raiser for my friend to try and help him pay these bills.
James is glad to be alive and we are happy to still have him with us. Those that know him know he is a wonderful caring person, fantastic musician and his many bassoon students know him as a warm giving teacher. His students have been members of the bassoon sections of the Texas All-State bands and Orchestras for years!
I hope you can find a way to contribute for him. Any amount would be greatly appreciated and all funds will go to paying his medical bills.
Thank you for reading and helping.
James' major musical jobs include performing as the principal bassoonist with Opera in the Heights and the Corpus Christ Symphony Orchestra. He also plays bassoon and contrabassoon with the Houston Symphony, Houston Ballet, Kingwood Chorale and with many other musical organizations in the Houston area.
In early April 2016, he began experiencing upper-back pains that he described as feeling like a severe burning or tearing. After believing that he might have heartburn and relaxing for a while, he realized that something was very wrong and he drove himself to a local emergency room facility.
It didn't take the ER personnel long to realize that he had some major cardio issue and ordered an ambulance to take him directly to the Houston Medical Center where there are many world-class physicians and facilities. Upon arriving, he was taken directly to emergency surgery, where grafts were made for his ascending and transverse aorta. He had a condition called an aortic disection; basically his aorta was about to burst.
This is a rare condition and has a pretty bleak survival rate. James has beaten the odds and is proceeding with his recovery. He and I worked his first return to music last night with him playing bassoon 2/contra for the Bernstein Mass and the final movement of the Beethoven 9th Symphony. He sounded as great as always.
But earlier that day James had received his medical bills. He had privately purchased medical insurance, but at $1000/month it was just too expensive and he had cancelled it just a few months before.
The wonderful doctors and facilities in the Houston Medical Center are not cheap; the bills total just over $300,000. There is no way that he can afford this and he's too shy to ask for help, so I am establishing this fund-raiser for my friend to try and help him pay these bills.
James is glad to be alive and we are happy to still have him with us. Those that know him know he is a wonderful caring person, fantastic musician and his many bassoon students know him as a warm giving teacher. His students have been members of the bassoon sections of the Texas All-State bands and Orchestras for years!
I hope you can find a way to contribute for him. Any amount would be greatly appreciated and all funds will go to paying his medical bills.
Thank you for reading and helping.
Organizer and beneficiary
Michael Frederick
Organizer
Porter, TX
James Roberson
Beneficiary