Ronnie McDowell Schedules Surgery After Mini-Stroke, Son Asks Fans For Prayers

Beloved Singer Ronnie McDowell Had A Mini-Stroke Onstage During A Show In June

Nearly one month after suffering a mini-stroke, Ronnie McDowell is scheduled to undergo surgery.

As Ronnie took to the stage at the Summer Solstice Music Festival in Oley, Pennsylvania, on June 21, his son, Ronnie McDowll Jr. (Ronnie Dean), noticed something wasn’t right. His dad was slurring his words and forgetting the lyrics to his songs.

“After a few minutes…I took my Dad off side stage to ask him how he was feeling,” Ronnie Dean recalled in a post on Facebook. “He told me that he wasn’t ok, and that’s not how my strong Dad talks, he said that he thought that he might be having a stroke. I immediately took him to the Sprinter for him to cool off. I asked the incredible promoter to bring over an EMT.”

“The King Is Gone” singer was transported to the hospital and underwent a series of tests. Doctors eventually concluded that Ronnie suffered a transient ischemic attack, more commonly known as a mini-stroke.

Thankfully, Ronnie got to come home from the hospital on June 23. His doctors cleared him to exercise and perform, but cautioned him to take it easy.

As Ronnie Dean explained, doctors told his dad he “will need surgery in the next few weeks.” Ronnie went into more detail himself when he shared a health update on June 26.

“Hi folks! Yes, I had a stroke,” Ronnie said in a video that shows him walking outside. Pointing toward his neck, he said, “I gotta get all this plaque cleared out here on my jugular.”

Ronnie returned to the stage on June 28, just one week after his mini-stroke. He performed for a sold-out crowd in Dry Ridge, Kentucky.

Prayers Requested As Ronnie McDowell Awaits Surgery

Ronnie has continued meeting with doctors between his various performances. Ronnie Dean has kept fans in the loop on his dad’s health, and he shared a new update on July 15.

In the post, Ronnie Dean said that his dad’s surgery has been scheduled for Tuesday, July 22. Additionally, he expressed concern about the upcoming operation and asked fans to pray for Ronnie.

“It is hitting me hard,” Ronnie Dean wrote. “He is the Best Dad that any Son could ever ask for. We have traveled all over God’s Creation together and we will continue to do so once he gets through this…. Please Pray for my Incredibly Awesome blessing of a Dad!”

As hundreds of people commented their well-wishes for Ronnie, his son responded with a comment of his own:

“Thank you all. I know dad is strong and will get through this, but it still has my nerves shot. I’ll feel much better once he’s over the surgery healed and back to normal. Then it’s vacation time and I will finally be able to breathe easy and relax.“

Read Ronnie Dean’s post about his dad’s upcoming surgery below. We’ll be praying for Ronnie’s quick and complete recovery.