Randy Travis Suffers Stroke, Rushed Back Into Surgery

Randy Travis suffered a stroke on Wednesday night and was rushed into surgery, complicating the congestive heart failure the country music singer had just suffered.

Doctors brought Travis into surgery to relieve pressure on his brain, and list the singer in critical condition.

Travis was transferred to The Heart Hospital at Baylor Plano on Monday after undergoing a procedure to have a device implanted on his heart. The mechanical pump is meant to help blood flow from the lower chambers of the heart to the rest of the body.

Reports earlier on Wednesday had said that Randy Travis was on the mend, with doctors saying he had “stabilized and he has shown signs of improvement.” But now his condition appears serious, with family rushing to be by his side.

“He is in critical condition, said Kirt Webster, Randy’s publicist.  “We will have updates as they become available. His family and friends here with him at the hospital request your prayers and support.”

The 54-year-old Travis was considered on Monday to leave Baylor Medical Center at McKinney, Texas, where he had been hospitalized since Sunday.

“We determined together in a joint decision that a higher level of specialized care was appropriate, and therefore we transferred him to The Heart Hospital,” said Dr. Michael Mack, who said the singer was still considered to be in critical condition.

Randy Travis still performing shows in the week before being struck with viral cardiomyopathy, a disorder where a virus attacks the heart muscles. He was scheduled to perform in South Dakota on Wednesday, but was hit suddenly with the condition, a friend said.

Travis, a Grammy-Winning artist, is best known for country hits “Forever and Ever, Amen” and “Three Wooden Crosses.” He had fallen onto hard times of late, however, with arrests in 2012 for assault and public intoxication.

A doctor said the stroke was likely brought on by the heart condition Randy Travis had just suffered.