"I got a call from the hospital at 2:41 p.m. today," he wrote in January. "They informed me that I have a match. I'm getting a kidney transplant. Beyond grateful."
In our profile of the Dallas-based singer, Gee revealed he was diagnosed with Stage 5 kidney disease in May 2023. Now, his transplant is scheduled for June 2.
Before that, he performs one final headlining show at The Kessler Theater on May 1, with special guests Remy Reilly, Kelvin Thomas and Mark Tamalea. His music is a fusion of retro soul, R&B and a little alt-pop, perfect spring/summer music.
In an announcement in April, Gee explained why these artists meant the world to him.
On Reilly, he wrote, "It’s been beautiful (and honestly wild) to witness her rise. I’ve seen her grow from a young girl into a bold, brilliant artist and woman. Her voice and presence are next level, and I’m truly honored to have her be a part of this bill."
On Thomas: "An artist I admire and a friend whose selflessness changed me. At one point, Kelvin offered to donate one of his kidneys to me. He was just about to start his bloodwork when I found out a donor had already been found. That kind of love? That stays with you for life."
He also revealed that Tamalea will share a few words. "Mark travels all over the world speaking life into people," he wrote. I know someone in the room will hear exactly what they need to hear because of him."
Gee has continued to update his Instagram followers, counting down the days until his kidney transplant. On Feb. 22, it was 100 days. On March 31, it was 62 days. On April 13, it was 50 days.
During a podcast interview with Truckin’ On w/ Ward Richmond, Gee shared how the major wake-up call about his health and drinking affected him.
"When I got diagnosed, one of the main things they told me, the nephrologist was like, 'You can still eat the food you were eating. You can still go to Chick-fil-A. You can still drink. You can have one two drinks a night,'" he says. "Something didn't sit right with me."
He remembered coming home from the hospital, telling himself that he had to figure out his diet. "They were always telling me, 'Eventually, you're going to go on dialysis,' he says. "I promised myself that I was going to figure out any way possible to keep my numbers steady so I don't have to be there."
He says he has committed to the McDougall Program, a plant-based diet, believing "my numbers could improve if I would do this." That meant no more meat and alcohol.
"I started seeing the results immediately with my labs," he says. "My numbers were supposed to decline. My kidney function was close to 10. It went 15, 16, to 18%. And that may not sound like a lot to someone, but for someone who is fighting for their life and not get on dialysis...because dialysis, you have about a 50% chance of living after getting on dialysis, and I was like, 'I'm not doing that. I'm going to fight that.'"
In one of Gee's last updates before the show, he says his kidney transplant is in 35 days. Gee's music career has reached several highs, from performing on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in the 2010s to winning Album of the Year for The Get Back at the second annual Dallas Entertainment Awards. This show at The Kessler will be an unforgettable night of soul, storytelling and a celebration of extending his life.
Tickets are still available for $18 here. The show starts at 8 p.m.
