A couple months back, JP Allen (of harmonica.com) survived a 60 foot fall and sustained some severe injuries. He was hospitalized and in a coma for several days. It’s a pretty serious situation and I think JP has probably a tough road ahead to recovery. The family has set up a GoFundMe page for medical expenses: https://www.gofundme.com/f/1smsmm4tao There is also a blog over at Caring Bridge with more details on his condition: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/thejpallenproject/journal
I have no professional association with JP, nor have I been asked by anyone to share this information, but I thought I should pass this along to the harmonica community. When I was getting started with harmonica, JP’s lessons on YouTube were some of the first harmonica instruction I received, and I always appreciated his positive demeanor. He emphasized a solid foundation in basics, the connection with breathing, and the pursuit of musicality and fun. If you’ve watched JP’s videos and gotten some from them, please consider supporting him in this time. ---------- Marc Graci YouTube Channel
It sorta kinda sounds like he might be on the mend but it’s pretty vague. Michael Rubin posted a few days ago that JP had his arm amputated. You’d think that if true, that might have made the update, so I can only hope Michael was misinformed! Michael didn’t cite a source for his information. It actually seems that most people have found out via the ripples emanating from Mirco’s posts here and on the front page. The caring bridge update today, December 3rd, is more informative.
Last Edited by SuperBee on Dec 03, 2019 12:39 AM
It is heartbreaking, but it sounds like JP is doing well given the extent of his injuries.
Journal entry by libby kirkpatrick — 17 hours ago
From Jps sisters, Gillian & Alyssa:
We are so incredibly grateful for the support JP has received over these past six weeks. It has been a great comfort to JP and his closest friends and family as he continues to battle with the strength and will of a true warrior in the ICU with the aid of his life saving medical team. The impact of the fall has caused extensive injury and many complications but we have also witnessed many miracles along the way. JP’s spirit is incredibly strong and he has been facing every procedure with courage and acceptance. He has been part of the the conversation with his medical team and family and has full knowledge of necessary surgeries and all he faces. He wishes to Live and Thrive and begin anew regardless of these difficult circumstances and the long road ahead. Currently, he is battling pneumonia and needs occasional oxygen to help clear his lungs. But he is breathing on his own now. He has been on and off dialysis because of damage to his kidneys. His pelvis and sacrum were surgically pinned and his spinal fractures are healing. He continues to wear a neck brace due to injury to his cervical vertebrae but there is no damage to his spinal cord. At some point he will need prosthetics for his right hand and left foot. He is able to speak now and his voice is getting stronger every day and he is beginning to eat solid food. He needs us all in communion now more than ever so he can heal and live to his greatest potential. With Love & Light
Jeez o peas. i just read the Feb 12 blog. Poor JP. https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/thejpallenproject/journal Don’t know how he fell, but the damage is simply unbelievable. War zone stuff. Say your gratitudes daily!
Last Edited by Sundancer on Feb 21, 2020 10:27 PM
It's a heartwrenching story, and a remarkable one. Very, very few of us go through something like this. The closest analogy might be a soldier in Afghanistan whose vehicle got blown up by an IED. That sort of rehab.
There’s another update about JP on the Caring Bridge site. Adam summed it up pretty well, JP has suffered injuries of the type usually seen on soldiers in the Middle East wounded by IEDs. What JP is going thru is mind-bogglingly tragic. But the spirit he is showing is extraordinary as well. Hope everybody has a very safe & healthy 2021.
Last Edited by Sundancer on Jan 02, 2021 12:36 PM
Tragic though it certainly is, the latest update is a much happier story. That is probably not quite the expression I'm looking for, but it's a story of overcoming and optimism.
The fall JP has suffered has done an extraordinary amount of damage. I've read several stories of people who survived dreadful falls (Joe Simpson and Paul Pritchard come immediately to mind) and also direct experience of my late wife's injuries from a relatively short fall which left her with a broken pelvis, femur and 7 ribs, but I was not prepared for what I've read about JP's injuries.
Oh man... so sorry to hear that - I live in Austin and I knew JP before he moved to the islands. Took some lessons with him. Truly nice person, very positive - great teacher. I will check the GoFundMe thing and post it on my FB page.
Hi JP, As some kind of moral booster I tried but was only able to find just one "J.P. Allen" track "Tooth Fight" to add to my Spotify encyclopaedia/compendium called "Harp (Blues Harmonica) ? ? Galaxy" https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4xCxysl09sgplgLlpycrB6 My aim was to make a single point of reference for harp players to get exposed to the widest variety of type of harmonica playing (although there is a bias towards blues and instrumentals) and for anyone else to enjoy (1691 tracks so far covering 1920-2021 or 108 hours or 4.5 days... Could be useful for anyone stuck on a hospital bed :-) Wishing you all the best Alan
P.S. Any comments @ https://www.facebook.com/BluesHarpGalaxy/
I couldn't quite get that link to play, so i typed it in you tube and found this. I don't know how to do just the link portion so hope this is okay
Last Edited by Spderyak on May 19, 2021 4:05 PM
Well said, Sundancer. Damn! What a guy! The resilience of the human spirit is amazing. The pure joy on the dancers' faces.... Glad he can still play harp. BronzeWailer's YouTube
