Michael Grimm improving after hospitalization for mystery illness

More than a month after blues musician Michael Grimm was hospitalized with an undisclosed illness, his wife, Lucie Grimm, updated fans on his Facebook page that the Hancock County native is getting better.

Grimm, 44, was hospitalized Memorial Day weekend in a Las Vegas hospital. He went in to the ER and ended up in ICU on a ventilator.

Since then he’s been taken off the vent and transferred to a rehabilitation facility.

Lucie Grimm said Friday that his full speaking voice is back and he is able to walk unassisted as a result of his physical and speech therapy.

She went on to say his singing voice is not yet back, but Grimm is not stressed about it.

“He feels that with proper vocal exercises and training, it will come back,” Lucie Grimm said.  “Michael is just overwhelmed by the amount of love and support from all of you. It brought him a lot of joy.”

Grimm is remembered for his soulful performances during Season 5 of “America’s Got Talent,” which he won to launch his career. Since then he’s made Las Vegas his home and has toured the country, often coming back to South Mississippi for concerts.

Viewers will remember that when asked what he would do with the million dollar prize, Grimm said he would build his grandparents, who raised him, a new home. He fulfilled that promise.

Lucie Grimm said in addition to working on his vocals, Grimm also is working on finger dexterity to get his muscle memory back so he can play guitar again.

“We’re taking it day by day,” she said. “Everyone is happy with the progress he’s making. But he still has quite a way to go before he can go before people again and perform again.”

She said he does miss being on stage and wants to do everything he can to get better and get back to performing.

A benefit concert is being held Sunday to help the couple with their medical expenses. Their health insurance had not yet taken effect when Grimm fell ill, so their expenses are all out of pocket. Friends in the entertainment industry organized the benefit to help them.