Bret Michaels Remains in Critical Condition
Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 12:01AM There really isn't much in the way of updates regarding Bret Michaels. He's still in critical condition at an undisclosed hospital. Some reports say he has been awake and talking, others make his condition seem more grim.
From People:
While Michaels remains hospitalized under "intense observation" and further testing following his brain hemorrhage, his rep updated PEOPLE Saturday: 'There are several incorrect reports on Bret's condition. Bret remains in critical condition ... Further tests are being ran and information will be updated in the coming days.'
I didn't feel right writing about something else other than Bret today even if I didn't have much in the way of news to pass along. Might as well pass some time watching some Bret videos.
"Fallen"
"Go That Far"
"Raine"
Reader Comments (22)
Keep up the good fight, Bret. We believe in you, man.
At least thats what im told
sometimes the rainbow baby, is better than the pot of gold
youve got to stick it out
wether your wrong or right
and you cant give in without a fight
God Bless You
And God Bless Rock and Roll
Without each other
The two can never be the same
Please get well soon
We all need you
And we need your Rock and Roll!
Has anyone heard from CC, Rikki or Bobby?
I have my Poison necklace on from 1989 and I'm not taking it off until Bret goes home. Still praying....
Yes, Rikki posted a Tweet on his account a couple of days back - just confirming that Bret's condition was serious and asking people to respect his family's privacy until they knew more. I think that's been the only public statement from any of the other guys in Poison.
The official update from Bret's manager (as of Mon morning) is that they haven't located to source of the bleed yet, so he's still in the ICU and under close observation. However, he's been conscious and talking (although his speech is slurred, and he's got blurred vision and dizziness) so they're hopeful that he'll be able to make a recovery. He's certainly not out of the woods yet, but consciousness has got to be a good sign at least.
Take time off and write.
I just know he's going to recover and while he's taking the necessary R&R as part of that recovery, getting healthy and regaining his strength, he should write a new album.
Lord knows if he did, it would be full of heartfelt soul gained from his survival.
Seems like this guy has had a few cat lives spent and a lot of close calls, too. He's got a story in each and every one of them. He should get them out there just as soon as he's ready.
God Bless and Godspeed, Brett!
Get better soon!
We're ready to rock when you are!
Cry Tough!
Please don't listen to 'em, Brett!
Keep fightin' and keep Cryin' Tough!
Honestly, after the huge emotional nightmare of the last few days (trying to make sense of all these different news stories, all saying slightly different things), the only person that I'm now listening to is Janna - who's posting the official updates and press releases on his website.
When they say that "further testing this week will help locate the source of the bleeding", I'm guessing that means that he's stabilizing and they expect him to make it through the week. He's also been conscious (although I think he's under sedation), which apparently a fairly positive prognosis for this kind of brain hemorrhage... if indeed, anything to do with a brain hemorrhage could be described as "positive". They're apparently going to update his website with an official medical report sometime later this week.
So yeah, he's hanging in there.
Thanks for givin' me the scoop on Janna.
I've actually been having a hard time getting on his site. It might be because it's so flooded or my cable or computer is messed up or something, though it flies pretty quickly, usually.
I just saw on MSNBC that he is conscious and according to doctors, that is a good sign. The reporter said she had interviewed him recently and was struck by how genuine and sweet he was in the interview (her words). She also remarked that he appears to be a fighter, as evidenced on the show.
All the Cable Networks have him in the news cycle and have been updating as things develop. I'm glad they are showing vintage Poison video clips and citing him as an "80's Icon", too, and not just a reality show contestant, though there's nothing wrong with that, obviously.
People are also remarking about how genuine and decent the guy comes across on "Celebrity Apprentice" and how he seems like a fighter and good person.
Finally some truth in the news.
It's going to be tough going...
Cry Tough, Brett!
Keep up the fight!
Our Rock and Roll Prayers continue...
p.s. It was great we heard from Rikki. Where are C.C. and Bobby?
You can also follow Janna's updates on Twitter. Even if you don't use Twitter, you can still bookmark the page and just check it regularly. Everything is public. Bretmichaels.com has been so flooded over the last couple of days that it just won't load. I don't think their server is coping well with all the extra traffic. To give you some idea, Bret's Facebook page has jumped from about 53,000 fans (as it was on Thursday), to just shy of 150,000 - and that's in about 4 days!
Bret IS sweet. Admittedly, I've only met him once - but he was very nice, polite, and professional... much nicer than I actually expected him to be. I hadn't eaten all day and he was the one who gave me dinner - not bought me dinner, but actually GAVE me his food. I've done a lot of shows, and I've never seen anyone do that for a fan.
As for the other question: Bobby and C.C. rarely make public posts online (actually, I'd say the same for Bret, up until recently), so it's not all that unusual to have not heard from them.
Yeah, I've always sensed Michaels is the genuine article. It always shines right thru whatever entertainment project he's workin' on. No matter how staged it may get, we can always see what a genuinely good person he is. I really hope he writes some great songs when he's feelin' up to it.
I've really got a good vibe he's gonna make it.
The fact that he made it to the hospital when he did is apparently key to his chances of survival. They are obviously simply doing everything they can for him and we are all keeping our Rock'n'Roll Vigil going for him. It's great to see such an overall positive outpouring for him.
I saw a few cheap shots at him today. People trying to display their knack for comedy in this situation is so uncool. Some people just don't get it.
But I'm glad most people do.
p.s. That's so cool you met him and he did such a nice thing for you. It just shows how decent the guy genuinely is.
p.s.s.t. I must have listened to "Cry Tough" like 6 times yesterday and I'm about to listen to it again in a mix I named "GL.A.M Luv" where it comes on third after L.A. boyz, Britton, "Hold On", and Lancia, "Sweet Melody" open the mix and is followed by "Please Come Back" by Jailhouse, etc., etc. It's a really great mix of like a hundred Glam Metal Power Ballads, Love Songs and other mushy kinda songs and "Cry Tough" fits right in but just towers over them, obviously, especially right now, in my mind. I almost started cryin' to it last night but I got tough, haha!! I hope Brett and the boyz would appreciate that. I'll be goin' to sleep with a big smile on my face knowin' he's gonna make it and I'll pass out not long after "Cry Tough" comes on, probably around track 10, "Wait" by White Lion... Maybe I should call the mix "Rockin' Lullabye's". Keep prayin' for Brett, Kiki and we'll all do the same!
Still, at least this industry has taught me to suck it up, stay positive, crack a joke, and carry on... or maybe Poison taught me that. Maybe they're the real reason that I learned to weather storms in the first place.
A lot of people have said it, but Bret really IS a fighter. Whatever the reality of his situation is, I'm sure that he's giving it his all.
Pete Evick from B*M*B posted on Bret's website earlier explaining why they're still staying a bit quiet on the details of his condition (which is totally understandable, considering some of the stuff I read over the weekend - some of is obviously taken WAY out of context). Bret's website still isn't loading properly for me either, but you can see the full post here:
http://www.poisonfanclub.net/news_detail.asp?id=710#
P.S. And if you want to read the rest of my loooong "I met Bret Michaels" story (and how I came to be half-starved and mooning around backstage in the first place), it's on my blog:
http://crytoughkiki.blogspot.com/2010/01/full-story.html
Bret sure as hell is fighting and crying tough!
Approximetely 4:58 p.m. EST...
Brett Michaels upgraded to stable condition...
Keep fightin', Brett...
Prayin' for ya...
Cry Tough!
There's been no official update from Janna since Sunday. Period.
I'm now feeling really sorry for his father, who has obviously been cornered by reporters a couple of times and forced to tell them what he knows (see this link: http://extratv.warnerbros.com/2010/04/bret_michaels_dad_says_rocker.php#comments ). He even admits that he hasn't spoken to Bret in two days, and they're still reporting that Bret is "improving" and up and talking again! There's nothing in the interview that says anything close to that! Way to take a sentence out of context! That's just bad reporting!
ETonline ( http://www.etonline.com/news/2010/04/86484/index.html ) has a "source" which says that he's scheduled for brain surgery to relieve the swelling... I'm not a neurosurgeon, but I've become a pretty quick study on Subacrachnoid Hemorrhages in the last couple of days, and I'd suggest that "surgery to relieve swelling" is just an attempt to combat hydrocephalus (which is where fluid collects around the brain in response to the trauma of the injury). Serious, certainly (any surgery that involves the brain is serious), but not an unforeseen complication, and surgery to relieve it may actually see his condition improve.
Sorry, but I'm just really angry at all of the poor (sensationalist, inflammatory) journalism I've seen in the last few days. If you're a reporter and you know nothing, just admit that you know nothing!... And leave his family alone, for heaven's sake!
"Bret Michaels Medical update -- Posted by Janna on Tuesday, April 27 2010
Test results indicate a setback in Bret Michaels condition a side effect from the brain hemorrhage called hyponatremia a lack of sodium in the body which leads to seizures.
Bret Michaels was the topic of Larry King Live as Donald Trump, Jr. and other celebrities weigh in on Michaels condition. Due to the severity of his condition, Bret Michaels continues to remain hospitalized in an intensive care unit at an undisclosed hospital. He remains in critical but stable condition according to his doctors. Last night on Larry King Live Bret Michaels condition was the topic on the show as Donald Trump, Jr., Darryl Strawberry, Sanjay Gupta and Carlos Diaz discuss concerns, lasting affects as well Michaels as a person. Donald Trump, Jr. stated that "Bret is very likable guy, down to earth and a solid person." He stated "out of all the people from 'Celebrity Apprentice,' I may have had the best kind of off-camera relationship with him over the three years." Trump, Jr. also says he is a great father and rocker and concerned for the singers health. Strawberry who starred on Celebrity Apprentice with Michaels says he is a good friend on and off camera. He is a hard worker and is a creative force on the show. Without a doubt he lives a crazy lifestyle and he wishes him a speedy recovery. Carlos Diaz who is a Radio Host and Entertainment Correspondent says Michaels is "a star that transcends several generations." He has reinvented his career, both on "Rock of Love" and "Celebrity Apprentice" as well as his music. Dr. Sanjay Gupta is CNN's chief medical correspondent says a subarachnoid hemorrhage is an aneurysm in one of the blood vessels. He stated about 10 percent of people don't survive. He obviously survived that. About another quarter of people don't make it through the first couple of days in the hospital and 30 percent make a full recovery.
Michaels' medical workup demonstrated findings of a subarachnoid hemorrhage, a type of stroke that causes bleeding in the fluid-filled spaces around the base of the brain. It presents itself suddenly as the sound of a loud gunshot or thunderclap at the back of the head causing severe cranial pain and muscle spasms. Many people are speculating Michaels head injury suffered from a prop striking the singer at the Tony awards last June is the cause. Additional studies are planned throughout the week to hopefully detect the exact cause of the rupture. Coupled with the fact that Michaels is a lifelong Type 1 diabetic and has recently undergone emergency appendectomy surgery while on tour in San Antonio, he will remain monitored closely by his medical team to make sure no complications occur from the diabetes.
The most common cause of this condition is a spontaneous rupture of a cerebral aneurysm, however, 15 to 20 percent of spontaneous episodes of this hemorrhage are found to have no cause. Michaels has undergone a continuous series of tests while in the ICU including angiograms, CT scans, MRI�s and transcranial dopplers (TCD's). Doctors state Michaels is very lucky as his condition could have been fatal. With further testing and rehabilitation, they are hopeful that Bret will gradually improve as the blood surrounding the brain dissolves and is reabsorbed into his system, which can be a very painful recovery and take several weeks to months. Michaels remains under 24-hour observation in the ICU and is in positive spirits. He is responding well to tests and treatments. Even though today was a minor setback Doctors remain hopeful for a full recovery and plan to release more specific information next Monday."