A fundraiser has been created for an East Vancouver soul artist who was hospitalized following a car crash on Oak Street last week.
Chelsea D.E Johnson is a member of the Old Soul Rebel duo and the High Society soul and blues band. Johnson, a rock and soul vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and rock 'n' roller has been in hospital for the past week after they experienced a medical emergency while driving back from a roller-skating class with a friend.
“Chelsea experienced a medical emergency at the wheel and lost consciousness. Their friend reached for the steering wheel from the passenger seat and managed to direct the car away from oncoming traffic. The two drifted toward the sidewalk and slammed into a lamp post totalling their Pontiac Vibe,” reads the GoFundMe page’s description.The description goes on to explain that two passersby pulled Johnson out of the driver's seat and performed CPR in the middle of Oak Street until an ambulance arrived. Johnson’s heart had stopped beating normally but after 20 minutes of CPR, several broken ribs and the use of an AED, Johnson’s heart was stabilized.
After being placed on a ventilator, Johnson’s medical team found that while there were no signs of injury from the car accident, a cause for the medical emergency has not been found.
The fundraiser’s goal of $50,000 has nearly been reached as of this writing but the page’s description warns of ongoing costs.
“Like so many independent artists, Chelsea does not have access to sick pay or extended benefits and the restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have had a hard impact on their income,” the page reads. “As more tests and examinations are underway, more medical circumstances will emerge and we want to ensure they can receive all the physical and mental care needed to make a full recovery and have the financial resources to take care of any unforeseen costs.”
Money raised will also go toward covering costs like Johnson’s totalled vehicle, living expenses like rent, hydro, phone bills, food, business expenses and care for their beloved cat Tuxo.
“If you have been blessed with Chelsea's presence on and off stage, you have felt their phenomenal care and love for the people in their life,” the page reads. “They take every opportunity to build up others, and show love to those around them. Now we have a chance to rally around Chelsea.”
