Huge benefit to help local musician

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By Don Logana - bio | email

SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - One minute a talented Savannah musician is performing, the next minute she is in the hospital unresponsive.

It's been a long road to recovery for Lori Stuart, who suffered a massive stroke more than two months ago.

on Thursday night, a huge benefit is being held to help Stuart. She wasn't given much of a chance to live, but she has defied the odds and her friends and fans are asking the community to come out and "Live' It Up for Lori".

Twenty-two bars, from Savannah to Richmond Hill to Wilmington Island are taking part. A whole community is ready to live it up for Lori Stuart.

For close to a decade, her voice has touched fans of local music.

"She's hangin' in there. She's a fighter. She still puts her two cents worth in for the band," Rob Stuart, Lori's husband, told WTOC.

Two months ago, while her band, Rhythm Riot was playing a gig at Bay Street Blues, Lori felt sick. Her husband says just hours later she suffered a massive stroke.

"The brain stem was completely clogged which cut off blood flow to the part of the brain that controls all your motor skills," he said.

Now, the vibrant singer is confined to a nursing home bed on Tybee Island, unable to verbally communicate. Her husband says doctors didn't give Lori a chance to live, let alone, blink.

"Very scary. Very upsetting too to see her in that state," Stuart said. "She's communicating with us, both through eye blinks and nodding her head."

"They kind of wrote her off. Let me tell you what, they don't know Lori Stuart," Bill Hodgson, Lori's band mate and best friend, told WTOC.

As a fellow member of Rhythm Riot, Hodgson knows Lori Stuart very well, visiting her almost everyday. "It is very inspirational, because she is fighting so hard and making remarkable progress without any help whatsoever. Purely on her own," he said.

Doctors may not be helping, but her fans and friends sure are.

Tonight, three of the bands biggest fans helped organize a city-wide benefit, which actually got a head start last week. Over the last few weeks, they have been selling "Lori Bucks" to help her out.

"They have been incredible, putting this together. Words can't describe the feeling," Stuart said.

The original goal was to raise $10,000. Already, with 22 bars, including JJ Bonerz, The Warehouse and Bay Street Blues, among so many others, $12,000 has been raised before the event even happened.

"Every piece of paper on this wall is someones hard earned dollar," Bonnie Walden told WTOC. She owns Bay Street Blues, where Lori's stroke began to take effect while she was performing. "You can see they have been extremely generous," Walden said, pointing to the wall of Lori Bucks.

"Tourists are leaving with two or three shirts just because they want to support her," Jessica Walden said. "They heard her story and they just wanted to do their part."

The support for his wife overwhelms Rob Stuart, who has to fight to hold back tears.

"Proud. Prous that people care. Kind of upsetting too," he said.

Stuart wishes Lori could be out, experiencing what so many people will be doing in her honor.

It's been tough on Lori's family. However, she will be watching tonight. her husband has set up a live remote with Lori at The Warehouse on River Street, where friends can say hello via a live web stream to her nursing home room.

The benefit tonight starts at 7:00 p.m., with multiple live bands, and raffles, fundraisers and special events and drinks, including dollar karoake.

For more information on 'Livin It Up For Lori", visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Livin-it-up-for-Lori/129284240424819?v=info&ref=ts#!/event.php?eid=123521417684216&ref=mf.