New Orleans drummer Eric Bolivar has revealed that he has a hereditary polycystic kidney disease and is currently in stage 5 kidney failure. A Facebook status from his personal page divulged:
“I don’t even know where to begin. Thank you thank you thank you to all of you for the unbelievable and overwhelming outpouring of love and support. It means the world to me. Hugs and kisses to all of you. I’m still at the hospital (LSU in New Orleans) and will be for at least a few more days. So if you haven’t heard, I have polycystic kidney disease. There are multiple and apparently inoperable benign cysts on my kidneys. They say that it’s hereditary and nothing to do with anything that I did or didn’t do to myself. They also said that it’s a good thing I got this a bit later in life as kids with this don’t always make it. I have a few more rounds of dialysis here before I start dialysis at home. For those that have been asking, I don’t know anything about transplant protocol yet but I’m about to find out. Btw to the people who have asked about that, I am forever grateful for you to have even considered what you’re considering. The road ahead is unclear on a lot of fronts at this point, so I have a lot to figure out. I know with all of you behind me I’ll be ok. Thank you all so much and hope to see you out there soon! Love love love (as Seal would say) To be continued”
Bolivar is a well-respected and loved New Orleans figure who has played with the likes of Pimps of Joytime, Anders Osborne, Bonerama, Karl Denson and many more.
Friends and family have put together a GoFundMe drive that has raised over $20,000 in just one day! The page explains,
“Eric has been diagnosed with level 5 kidney failure, and will require dialysis daily for the rest of his life, and possibly a kidney transplant. This will sideline him from doing what he was meant to do for a living for who knows how long, and he desperately needs our help.”
We definitely encourage you to go donate here, and wish Eric all the best in his recovery!