Here's an update on Peter Ostroushko

[jelhai]

...who spoke at a benefit concert held to help pay his medical bills:

http://www.startribune.com/ailing-mi...ser/488858811/

[jswag]

Thanks for sharing this.
First got to see Peter play when he toured with Robin and Linda Williams, long ago.
Great memories! Fantastic musician, and always had a joke ready to tell, - and sounds like he still does!
Jeff

[ptritz]

If you'd like to contribute, here's a link to the gofundme page. https://www.gofundme.com/peter-and-marge He's got long road of rehab ahead of him, and health insurance won't cover all of it.

[Eric Platt]

Thanks for this. Very sorry to have missed the event. He's been a real influence on my playing, even before I started hacking on mandolin.

[Oren]

Aw, heck! I am so sorry to hear about Peter's difficulties. I first heard him play when he was probably 18 years old, one night at the New Riverside Cafe (I think) in the West Bank neighborhood of Minneapolis. And many times after that at festivals and concerts in Upper Michigan and Minnesota. And on the old PHC radio show, when he and Bob Douglass would do twin-mandolin choruses on old tunes with the New Prairie Ramblers. Great music. He's 10 or more years younger than I am, but he's been one of my heroes for a long time. Hang in there, Peter--I've known 2 or 3 musicians who have recovered from strokes, and come back to play again. I'll bet you can do it, too.

[Cuba Ridge]

Any update on Peter?

[rcc56]

I just spoke to him. He is making very slow progress. His left side was completely paralyzed. He is starting to use a walker, and they are hopeful that he may be able to get around with a cane by the end of the year. He cannot use his left hand. His speech is pretty clear.

He said that the go-fund-me campaign has been very helpful. He needs a lot of care and the expenses are high. He is very grateful to everybody who has contributed.