Poison frontman turned reality sensation Bret Michaels is no stranger to health troubles. After being diagnosed with diabetes at age 6 and surviving a severe car wreck in 1994, it would seem that his luck may have been due for a change for the better. But his recent health scare is by far the worst yet. An appendectomy on April 12 landed the singer in the hospital just before taking the stage in San Antonio. Necessary surgery was performed, and Michaels was on the road to recovery two days later after being released.
But the troubles were far from over. After experiencing an extreme head ache on April 22, Michaels entered the hospital once again where doctors discovered a massive subarachnoid hemorrhage. He remained in critical condition for nearly two weeks and proclaimed to the press that he is “lucky to be alive”.
“I opened my eyes, and was like, ‘I am so thankful. I’m lucky to be alive,” Bret told People magazine in his first interview about the ordeal. “It just wasn’t my time yet!”
“I’m a believer it’s a combination of will and faith [that kept me alive],” the 47-year-old singer explained. “Will — and good medical attention — and faith.”
Michaels has been working overtime in recent years as the frontman for his band Poison, all while forging a solo musical career, starring on his own reality shows, and competing on the Celebrity Apprentice with Donald Trump. It’s unclear as to whether or not a scheduled solo tour and final appearances on the Apprentice will be able to take place in the wake of these recent scares.
But regardless of the very near future, the singer is confident about the long term. “It’s the weirdest thing: You feel so much love and realize in a moment, in an instant … you focus on what becomes really important. I want to continue to rock the world, and I want to continue to love my family and be a good father. I was given a second chance!”
