It’s hard to believe that its been three years since, R&B legend Al B. Sure, whose real name is Albert Joseph Brown III, had woken up from a two-month-long coma. He shared this news via an update on Twitter alongside a photo from the hospital. In the photo that the singer had gotten remarkably thin and needed help walking.
“A very humble thank you for the prayers my @WBLS1075NYC family. I’m alive, awake, on the mend,” he wrote. “Submissively grateful! #AllPraiseisDuetoAllah. I’ll share more of my health experience soon in hopes to encourage us all to stay on top of our #HealthandWellness #GoSeetheDoctor ❤️ ABS!”
His son, Albert Brown IV, also posted a photo of the pair, celebrating his birthday and his father’s recovery.
“Thank you every 1 for the bday wishes!! 🙏🏾🙏🏾 been kinda out of it and in my own world!! @officialalbsure POPS BEEN hospitalized FOR 2 months and he just made it out!!” he wrote. “Thank u for all the concerns and worries about my family! Today is my day but this is for my pops! All I want for him is to get out that f—ing hospital!! We need u big homie!!”
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In an open letter to fans the new jack swing singer-songwriter opened up about the “medical rollercoaster” that landed him in the hospital and his two-month coma.
“I want to send a personal and sincere thank you to all of you who sent prayers, well-wishes and positive energy my way,” Sure! said. “I now value everyday functionality like walking, talking and breathing on your own with no assistance from a medical professional or machines. Take none of those things for granted.”
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Sure! said his health ordeal began in July when he “began to lose feeling on the entire left side of my body” and “fell over” while working in the studio.
“I only remember sitting in the ER in a wheelchair and my brother, DJ Eddie F, standing next to me speaking with security,” Sure! recalled the incident.
While the “Night & Day” hit singer shared he “accumulated excessive fluid in my lungs, fungal pneumonia, became septic (and) had lymph nodes removed.”
His Transplant Helped Save His Life
Sure! said he underwent various medical procedures during his hospitalization, including liver transplant, “multiple blood transfusions,” intubation and being placed on a ventilator. The severity of his condition left Sure!’s doctors “fully prepared to send me to hospice,” he said.
“Doctors said it just didn’t look as if I’d make it through with everything going on simultaneously,” Sure! said. “Thank God I’m alive, alert, gradually healing and forever grateful for my time being extended on His green Earth. I’m maintaining a positive mindset throughout this healing process.”
Since recovering, he has become a vocal advocate for organ transplantation and health equity, particularly for marginalized communities. He is involved with the American Liver Foundation and the Health Equity in Transplantation Coalition. In 2024, he received the Transplant Trailblazer Award from the American Liver Foundation.
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“This unforeseen medical roller coaster has been a complete life-changing experience,” writes Al on his Instagram. “And I truly value everyday functionality like Walking, Talking and Breathing on your my own with no assistance from a medical professional or machines. Take none of the forementioned for granted.”
“Here’s an abbreviated version of events ••• In early to mid-July I was in a meeting over lunch, wrapped up and proceeded back to the studio to continue working on my upcoming project. As I sat in front of the computer I began to lose feeling on the entire left side of my body and fell over to the side. Fortunately my phone was within reach and I was able to call for assistance. I only remember sitting in the ER in a wheelchair and my brother @DJEddieF standing next to me speaking with a security guard. It was October when I was made fully aware of what had transpired and able to start to comprehend it all. I had multiple surgeries covering everything from repairing a #hematoma / #hernia to an #OrganTransplant!”
Numbness Can be A Warning Sign for Us All
Causes of numbness and tingling can range from sitting in one position for too long to insect bites to multiple sclerosis. But the numbness on one side of the body like how Al B. experienced would lead one to believe that it was more serious than that.
Regionalized pain (or pain that manifests in one specific area of the body) can be caused by a number of injuries and conditions. However, many (if not most) cases of regionalized pain and numbness result from nerve issues.
When pain and numbness occur in a specific bodily region (like on one side of the body), the most likely culprit are the spinal nerves. In fact, most instances of numbness can be traced back to a nerve issue. The nerves in the spinal column help transmit sensory signals to our body parts from the brain, and vice versa. When a nerve gets pinched by a spinal disc or damaged in an accident, these sensory signals can get messed up, resulting in tingling, numbness, and pain in certain areas of the body.
Here are some of the more common causes of what Al B. Sure experienced on the left side of his body:
Stroke
A stroke is a life-threatening condition that happens when a part of your brain loses its blood supply. Most strokes are caused by a blood clot (thrombosis) that cuts off the blood flow to your brain (known as an ischaemic stroke), but some can be caused by bleeding in the brain (known as a haemorrhagic stroke).
Stroke symptoms depend on which part of your brain is affected. You may feel tingling or numbness usually on one side of your body, but it could be on both sides. Other symptoms include:
- drooping of one side of your face
- trouble moving your arms or legs (weakness)
- numbness or tingling in your arms or legs
- trouble speaking, like slurred speech or not being able to talk
- Sometimes you may get these symptoms, but they go away after a few minutes or hours – this is called a transient ischaemic attack (TIA), or ‘mini stroke’. Although the symptoms get better quickly, it can mean you’re at risk of having a full stroke.
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a serious condition that affects your brain and spinal cord, and stops your nerves working properly. Exactly what causes it isn’t clear, but it’s thought to be a combination of your genetics and environmental factors, such as viral infections in childhood.
MS can cause a wide range of symptoms, including numbness or tingling in different body parts. Other common symptoms include:
- feeling tired
- trouble walking
- blurred vision, double vision and eye pain
- problems controlling your pee
- problems with balance
- muscle stiffness and spasms
- problems with thinking, learning and planning
Your symptoms might come and go, or get gradually worse over time.
Tumors
Tumors are groups of abnormal cells that form a growth. If the growth is in or near your brain or spine, it can press on your nerves. Not all tumors are cancerous – some (known as benign tumors) don’t spread to other parts of your body. But both types can squash or damage nerves and cause symptoms like numbness or tingling.
The causes of brain and spinal tumors aren’t clear, but they’re more common in older age.
If you have a brain tumor, your symptoms will depend on which part of your brain it’s in. Read more about the symptoms of brain tumors.
A spinal cord tumor may cause symptoms below where it’s growing, including tingling and numbness, weakness of a body part, and pain that’s there all the time.
The Loss of His Mother
Earlier in the year, May of 2025, Al B. shared that he his mother had passed away
I have no words to express this feeling adequately, or what my Mother meant to me at this particular moment, but wanted to say thank you all for showing her so much Love and Light in Abundance all throughout her battle with C***cer.
A very humble thank you to all Moms around the globe who are going through their own health crisis and the prayer warriors that held worship services, reached out with the love, prayers and well wishes.
A special acknowledgment to Mom B!’s church saints that truly loved the Lord like She does, and to those of you who were a part of her VIP MomDukes.club 🙏🏽
Rev Cassandra Mack-Brown
August 11, 1950 – May 18, 2025
