Ruthie Foster Drummer Samantha Banks In Intensive Care

HOUSTON, TX (CelebrityAccess) — Samantha Banks, the longtime drummer for blues artist Ruthie Foster, is facing medical challenges and is currently hospitalized with what Foster characterized as a “major brain bleed.”

“On Friday, Samantha suffered a major hypertension event that caused bleeding in her brain. Right now, she is in the Neuro Intensive Care Unit in a hospital in the Texas Medical Center in Houston. Her daughter Briana and her mom Ms. Betty have been with her since that night. While she is not conscious, when Briana played music for her, her blood pressure lowered so we believe she can hear us,” Foster wrote in a post on her social media on Wednesday.

Foster went on to note that like many artists, her longtime colleague lacked medical insurance and was facing “enormous bills.;”

“We are asking you, her friends and fans, to please leave a message of support for Sam. We will read all messages of love and healing to her as she fights to get better. We’ll also ask that you do what you can to donate to the fund to help her and her family in this time of greatest need. Anything at all will help and I know she’ll appreciate it. But right now, please send all the love you can to Sam,” Foster added.

To further that goal, Foster set up a GoFundMe page to help raise money to defray Bank’s medical costs. Per the GoFundMe, money raised will help with medical and therapy costs, medical supplies, daily care and support, as well as transportation and living expenses.