At age 15, John was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, an inherited degenerative eye disease that has resulted in severe vision loss and severe hearing loss, and is a condition of Usher Syndrome. John is also a stand-up comedian. In March 2011, Johnny finished 5th in Madison’s Funniest Comic Competition, and was hand-picked by Bob Saget to open for his performance at the Orpheum.