Bret Michaels Suffers Stroke While Recovering From Hemorrhage

Bret Michaels has been re-admitted to the hospital after suffering a "warning stroke," or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), his reps told fans via Facebook today. Earlier this week, Michaels complained of numbness in the left side of his body and underwent a series of tests, including an MRI and CAT scan. He tested positive for Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO), meaning the singer has a hole in his heart. Doctors believe the PFO caused the warning stroke, and that both medical setbacks did not stem from Michaels' recent brain hemorrhage. Before today's medical setback, Michaels had been discharged from the hospital and was undergoing physical rehabilitation. He even joked with Rolling Stone , admitting his hemorrhage struck while he was perusing the flick Busty Cops 3.

Nothin' But Good Times: Check out photos of Bret Michaels' craziest days with Poison.

"There is no doubt that the positive Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) is devastating news to Bret and his family," Michaels' neurosurgeon Dr. Zabramski said in a statement. "The good news is that it is operable and treatable and we think we may have diagnosed the problem that caused the Transient Ischemic Attach (TIA) or warning stroke; however we feel it is highly unlikely this is connected to the brain hemorrhage he suffered just a few weeks earlier. Once again, it is great that he quickly reacted to the severe numbness and got to the hospital immediately."

Zabramski is optimistic that Michaels will be well enough to attend this weekend's Celebrity Apprentice finale (where Bret is one of the finalists) and also return to his concert schedule on May 28th. "Medically speaking, it is a fantastic attitude both mentally and physically for him to have," Zabramski said. "However, Bret's brain and body are not quite 100 percent yet, especially with the hole found in his heart." Added Michaels' rep Janna Elias, "He is up, walking, talking, continuing his daily rehab and very happy to be alive but he has made it clear he is sick and tired of being in the hospital and is ready to rock again."

• 
  MUSIC 100 Greatest Debut Albums
• 
  MOVIES 'Great Gatsby' Is a Crushing Disappointment
• 
  TV Why You Should Watch 'Happy Endings'
• 
  POLITICS No Price Big Banks Can't Fix

Song Stories

“Oh Sherrie”

Steve Perry | 1984

Steve Perry's girlfriend Sherrie Swafford was actually in the studio when Perry began writing this song--his lone Top Ten hit as a solo act--with two co-writers. The trio began at midnight one night with just "Oh, Sherrie!" and "hold on, hold on." Three hours later, they had a complete song. Swafford, however, had to wait until the next day to hear it. "Sherrie actually got tired and went to bed," Perry said. She also appeared in the video, but their relationship did not hold on for long.

More Song Stories entries »

Twitter