Elton John has praised teenager Ryan White and his family for keeping him alive.
Elton John Praises Teenager Ryan White And His Family For Saving His Life-‘Without Them, I’d Probably Be Dead’
The musician made this revelation during the course of his concert at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis. Ryan, for his part, had gotten HIV as a result of a blood transfusion that went wrong.
Things did not get any better in that regard, as he died aged just 18 in 1990. But given that Elton had met Ryan, as well as his family, that gave him the courage to reevaluate his own life.
Of particular importance was Ryan’s mother, Jeanne White-Ginder, who just so happened to be at Elton’s concert. And through it all, the pair have managed to maintain a good relationship.
In his comments, Elton said: “I knew that my lifestyle was crazy and out of order. And six months later, I got sober and clean and have been ever since. I cannot thank them enough, because without them, I’d probably be dead.”
Elton’s history with substance abuse is well documented. He has previously spoken on how drugs and alcohol were a part of his life when it came to creating new music. But when he became sober, the initial transition to creating music with a clear head was tough to deal with.
But through it all, he managed to get out the other side. And as a way to show how grateful he was to Ryan’s family, he dedicated his song ‘Don’t let the sun go Down,’ to the family. He added: “I love you so much. Thank you for all you’ve done for me. This song is for you.”
The response on social media was very positive. A large majority of fans praised the influence that Ryan had on Elton. After all, without him by the singer’s side, who knows where Elton may have ended up.
One fan wrote: “Damn! I lost it when he mentioned Ryan. Definitely need a statue to preserve the memory of that beautiful, courageous young man.” Ryan may no longer be here, but his memory will live on through Elton’s music. So there you have it folks. What did you think about this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7_vT2VDgak
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