groucho Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 I figured she deserved her own thread - plus this from her husband quoted from "The Bottom Line" ================================================== Subject: Rana Ross I played bass for many years until I met Rana in 1987 at BIT in Hollywood. We got married in 1988, and I stopped playing professionally around 1990 to support her career as much as I could. Hi All, (John Ross, Rana's husband, asked me to post this for him. He got many emails from TBLers who asked about Rana, since her illness was a surprise to many, and so many were saddened by her passing. This is from John:) To give you an idea of what she overcame over the years we were married on Sept 8th, 1988 but - before she would allow me to marry her - she went to have an AIDS test done. She grew up in Brooklyn, NY and spent a wild time (sex, drugs and rock & roll) during the late 70's/early 80's. She stopped the wild side around 1982 but it was too late. The HIV test came back positive in 1988 and at that time it was a death sentence with no drugs available to treat the disease. I talked her into marrying me anyway, because it's the person that you love, not the disease. I was and remain HIV negative, and in fact never had any fear of contracting the virus from her - can't explain it, but somehow I knew that she would never pass it to me. The medications that eventually came out over the years worked for her, but it was like taking chemo-therapy year after year. One result was the erosion of the sheaths that cover the nerves in her feet and hands, developing into a diabetic-like peripheral neuropathy. She described it as feeling like someone has driven red hot nails into her feet and sent her walking across hot coals. How she performed and danced on stage I'll never know, but she never missed a step. Know one knew that many times I literally had to carry her to the car from the pain, but she would never allow this to interfere with her career or jeopardize any band's performance. She was amazing like that - and how she played when her hands were so numb that she couldn't feel the strings I'll never understand, but she did it and only very very rarely missed a note. She was a consummate performer. Over the last 7 years she has been in and out of various hospitals over 50 times, but never once did she miss a performance, regardless of how ill she felt. Last year we found out that she had Hep C, which caused the cirrhosis of the liver that eventually killed her. Basically, the decomposed liver allowed blood to back up into the inflowing veins, which caused bleeding in the abdomen and stomach. Unknown to us she was bleeding internally over the weekend and collapsed on Monday. She was taken to the hospital ER where she coded, but they brought her back to life - comatose. That was always her biggest fear, to be on life support. I went against her wishes and told the doctors to do everything they could to keep her alive so that her family, who are all on the east coast, time to get out here to Los Angeles. I felt that her mother had to have a chance to say goodbye to her daughter, there was no way I was going to not allow that to happen. She had several cardiac and pulmonary arrests, the last one very severe. That was the day I had to insist that she be taken off life support. She passed easily, opening her eyes and looking at everyone in the room and squeezing the hands of those holding onto her and simply stopped breathing. For the first time in months she looked peaceful. No more pain, hospitals,doctors, needles, medication. It was simply time for her to rest. She had told me many times over the last few months that she was tired of fighting and being in constant pain, and that the only reason she was fighting and staying with us was she was afraid to leave me alone. Her body started to shut down after I held her for hours, telling her over and over that I love her and if she wants to fight I'll be right along side her all the way but that I know she's tired and that I'll be OK if she wants to stop the battle. I think I finally got through to her, convinced her that I'd be OK and please not to stay in pain for me. I told her it's OK to just let go, and her body started to shut down - kidneys, etc. I hope she gets the long rest that she deserves so much. But my God, I miss her so much my bones ache. Peace, John Ross ================================================= I urge you to check out her site : Rana Ross if it ain't broke don't fix it... unless you need the overtime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenLoy Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 Oh wow...man... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassaddik Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 my prayers go out to her family and that brave man whose heart has broken- that is beyond sad.... Praise ye the LORD. ....praise him with stringed instruments and organs... Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. excerpt from- Psalm 150 visit me at: www.adriangarcia.net for His glory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wally Malone Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 I read this on TBL and sure brought out the emotions. I did not know Rana but she seemed like the ultimate professional and had great support from her lifetime partner, her husband John Ross. Wally I have basses to play, places to be and good music to make! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfmonkey Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 Thanks for posting this. I have no homepage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chewstermaniac Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 Touching indeed Check out my work in progress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornbread_medhotmail.com Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 Sad, sad day. God needed another bassist in His band. He got another great one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groucho Posted May 14, 2003 Author Share Posted May 14, 2003 I had only just heard about her myself... Then came the TBL post and I felt it was important to share it. Reminds me (and I am sure many of you)about how lucky we are to have our health (more or less - I have had some minor symptoms of diabetic neuropathy - but NOTHING like what her meds treatments gave her) - and the chance to keep on keeping on - doing what we love. if it ain't broke don't fix it... unless you need the overtime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jotown Posted May 14, 2003 Share Posted May 14, 2003 Noel Redding, now Rana Ross..... I hope these things really don't come in threes. Blessings to her and her family. Jotown:) "It's all good: Except when it's Great" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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