Bret Michaels Describes His Ordeal: 'It Sounded Like a Small Handgun Went Off in the Back of My Head'

By PopEater Staff Posted May 19th 2010 12:58PM

Today on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show,' Bret Michaels opened up about his recent health struggles for the first time.

On April 21, the rocker was hospitalized with a brain hemorrhage. "I've never been shot, thank God, but I can tell you this: It sounded like a small handgun went off in the back of my head. They call it a thunderclap, and I've never instantaneously had a headache like that in my entire life. The word's not even a headache. It's like a migraine times 10," he told Oprah.

"I did not want to be collapsed on the floor in the morning when my daughters and family got up and see me lying there, either unconscious or worse," he explained

But when his girlfriend took him to the hospital, he didn't want to go in. "All I could do was just hold my head. Kristi went in. I said, 'Don't get anybody. Just let me sit here.' And that's the worst thing you can do. That's how a lot of people that have this happen pass away. They try to sleep through it, or they're in so much pain they don't want to do anything."

Michaels was given a wheelchair, but said he doesn't remember what happened next. Kristi, however, does.

"We were in the emergency room, and [the doctor] came in and said, 'It's not good news.' And he said, 'I heard you two talking about you having daughters. You might want to say goodbye to them.' [Bret] just kept telling me, 'Tell the girls I love them,'" she revealed.

When Bret did come to, he watched as doctors performed multiple tests. "What happened was I got very sad. I went into this completely just asking God, 'You've got to let me live through this.' I was doing a lot of asking at that point. [I thought], 'I know I've done a lot of rotten things. I'm asking for a break here, and if you could cut me a break just this time, I promise I'll be better in the future.'"

What was he feeling at the time? "It's funny because it puts things in perspective real quickly. People say this happens, but it really happened to me. [You think about] your immediate family, your kids, your best friends. At that point, you're not thinking about anything else."

Kristi didn't want to think about their two daughters growing up without a father. "It was horrible."

Bret's 9-year-old daughter Raine remembered what was going through her mind. "All these memories were just flashing through my head of him ... the first time onstage with him, the first time singing on the mic with him, the first time playing basketball. To think that my dad wouldn't be growing up with me, and my dad wouldn't be walking me down the aisle for my wedding, it was just really heartbreaking."

The Poison singer credits his recovery to the unyielding support of his family and friends. "It gave me this unsinkable strength. It gave me this amazing courage to want to survive. I'm one of those guys who truly believes in mind over matter."

Although it was touch and go for three days -- during which Michaels wore his signature bandanna ("It's like Superman without the cape. I said: 'If I'm going out, I want to go out rockin.' All right?' If I've got to go, I said, 'Leave the boots on, some form of the bandanna and a cape ... not in that hospital gown, no matter what happens.'") -- he ultimately made it.

Doctors say that only about 20 percent of patients don't survive what happened to Bret. And Michaels has some advice for everyone out there.

"When you know something is wrong, you need to go to the emergency room," he warned. "I avoid a hospital at all costs, and here I've been a lifelong diabetic. I'll tell you, when it happened and I knew something was wrong, your body tells you."

Now, he goes to rehabilitation therapy twice a day, though he still has problems. "I'm having a little trouble moving my lower extremities. The neck is very stiff. The headaches, they're still there. They said this is to be expected for at least a month after this happens, and each day gets better."

He plans to resume his tour as soon as possible. "I'm just appreciative to be here and have such great family around me, great friends and a great medical team. [I] thank the good Lord or guardian angel -- whoever is watching over me -- that it didn't take me out."

As for his relationship with Kristi -- which has been on and off for 16 years -- the two are closer than ever. "It's really brought us together ... She is a fantastic person and unbelievable human being. As they say, 'Being with a music man ain't always what it's supposed to be.' Sometimes it's glamorous. Other times it's months and months and months on the road."

(For the record, he doesn't regret filming three seasons of 'Rock of Love,' during which he and Kristi took a break. "I'm thankful I got to meet a lot of unbelievably fun and/or crazy girls and women on that show. But at the same time, I'm so glad that Kristi and I ... [that] our bond is even stronger now.")

Shortly, he'll even begin work on his new series, 'Bret Michaels: Life as I Know It,' for VH1.

Watch the Girls on Pop: Is Bret Doing Too Much?

Tags: bret michaels, oprah winfrey

Comments

(130)

Wednesday 19 May

By Angiebaby

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I think he had an aneurysm, which is bad enough, but I don't believe he had an actual brain bleed because he would have been much more incapacitated and his recovery would not have been anything like it has been. I'm glad for this miracle in his life. Not only that he gets good emergency medical care when he needs it, but that he has others he can count on to help him recover.

By Ally

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My brother in law had blood on his brain after falling and hitting his head on concrete, and he has had the same exact recovery. Medical facts change according to God's will.

By ArmyRN

An aneurysm IS a "brain bleed" (though the brain tissue itself doesn't bleed; it's the vasculature around the brain tissue that has burst). And recovery varies based upon what location of the bleed, the amount bled into the brain, how quickly the bleed is caught and treated, etc...

By Tracy

I don't believe he had an aneurysm. I have 3 of them in my head and it does not sound it. But my sister had a over a dozen bleeds in her head. She had a stroke all due from licorice. Its a rare case but can happen.
(she use to eat a ton of it). The only way they knew was the Doctor walked in her room and there is a big bag sitting there.
Also if an aneurysm they would of found it right away. All it takes is a ct scan.

By SweetPea

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ArmyRN - Aneurysm is NOT a bleed. It may burst or rupture but is is a blood-filled dilation of a blood vessel which can result in a bleed. And if someone has a SEVERE bleed in the basal ganglia as it was stated, Bret WOULD have suffered some type of risidual motor impairnment. Perhaps, he may have had a mild bleed but there's no way he acquired a SEVERE bleed.

By kristinb86

no offense but I think I would believe a neurologist at the best neuro-center in the country over you

By LARRY

You made it brother ! The big guy in the sky said it"s not time yet, Rock on Bret !

By Becky

Bret, I am glad you are alive. Now, in my opinion, you need to serve the God that saved you. First of all, you need to marry the woman that loves and and stands by your side. Be a real man

By Madglen

I guess you think there is a Easter Bunny to.....lol...(Serve the God that saved you, get real)

Thursday 20 May

By tricia

I SO AGREE WITH YOU BECKY!!!! YOU SAID IT ALL.

By Honesty

Glad to hear Bret is doing so well...I prayed like never before for him... hoping he makes changes that ensure him a long happy HEALTHY future with his family...

By llednez

Becky - "Serve" the god that saved him? So that would be the same "god" that allowed him to have the brain hemorrhage in the first place. Mythology is down the hall, dear, first door on your left.

By janice

God does not cause bad things. He only allows them to happen sometimes. The guy ask Him to let him live so good chance God brought him through this. "Ask and you shall receive." by asking you are showing faith. Other possibility, God did nothing and the guy was lucky. I believe God answered his prayer.

By Tink

What a sad response. I'm glad I don't think like you......
GEEEEZZZZZ

By curlyfry117

wow your a total jerkoff. seriously. you needa grow a pair.

By chewy622004

God was trying to tell him it was time to slow down, so yes, Searve the god that saved his life sound just about right to me.

By Julie Kawski

That'a a load of krap!! God is definitely not a myth, I have been shown his existence many times, you have to "believe", you won't get any where with that attitude, I really pity you, I will pray for you.

By annie

you and magdlyn, SHUT UP!

By Karen

When I would question my mother about God, she use to tell me that somebody had to put us here. I know at time's, it seem's over whelming, to believe in something, you can't see. But he is real and I have seen God's work and he's helped me many times, when I just didn't know, what else to do. You don't have to be a saint to let God into your life. I know I probably sin every day, but I don't let that keep me, from believing in God.

By jd

Good luck when it's your time to go, jerkoff.

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