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  • bret_michaelsPoison frontman and TV reality star Bret Michaels is suffering slurred speech and some motor impairment as a result of a massive brain hemorrhage and remains in critical condition, according to the latest update from his publicist.

    The prognosis raises questions whether he’ll be able to sing and continue with his reality television commitments without a long period of rehabilitation.

    Michaels was rushed to an undisclosed hospital on Friday (Apr. 23) with a severe headache. Doctors diagnosed a massive subarachnoid hemorrhage, or bleeding at the base of his brain stem.


    Such a hemorrhage floods the space between the brain and the skull, creating pressure on the brain that causes a severe headache.

    Michaels said the headache that prompted him to call for an ambulance felt “like [getting] hit in the head with a baseball bat over and over again.” a source told People magazine.

    As of late Sunday, the 47-year-old singer was still under 24-hour supervision and is listed in critical condition, a statement issued on Sunday by the rep said.

    Doctors are trying to locate the source of the bleeding.

    “Bret is a fighter and we are hopeful that once all is complete, the slurred speech, blurred vision and dizziness etc will be eliminated and all functions will return to normal,” the statement added.

    Michaels iconic ballad, “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” cemented Poison as an iconic ’80s glam metal band.

    He has struggled with the most dangerous type of diabetes since he was a child, and complications from the affliction may have played a role in his brain bleeding.

    He disclosed last week that he underwent an emergency appendectomy earlier this month.

    He called it a “wake-up call to be a little bit more diligent on keeping control of my health,” on his blog.

    Michaels has carved out a second career as a popular reality TV personality.

    He’s appeared in VH1’s dating contest “Rock of Love” and on the current season of “The Celebrity Apprentice.”

    His latest album Custom Built is scheduled for release this year, and he recently recorded a controversial song with teen sensation Miley Cyrus.