Bret Michaels Opens Up About His Health
Written by Marc Parker and Melissa Benefield Parker, Posted in Articles Musicians
Image attributed to Mark Mazzanti
Singer-songwriter and musician Bret Michaels gained fame as the lead singer of the glam metal band Poison, who have sold over 40 million records worldwide. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as a child, Michaels’ Life Rocks Foundation, which is a unique dollar in dollar out foundation, gives back to multiple causes including diabetes research, wounded soldiers and animals in need.
During a 2018 interview with Smashing Interviews Magazine, Michaels spoke openly about his lifelong health struggles.
"I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when I was six, and I’m still doing the five injections a day. I’ve tried different forms. There are lots of advances in diabetes, and they’re all great. And I use them the best I can. But for some reason right now, the injections are working the best for me, or I’m the most used to them," Michaels stated.
"Combine that with the subarachnoid hemorrhage, the heart surgery and a few other things, I say grace of God, good medicine and a lot of great family and friends got me through."
Despite many health setbacks and scares over the years, the Poison frontman has maintained an optimistic attitude that has both served him well and motivated him to move forward.
"I just never let it get me down. I try to stay positive even through the truly toughest of days and just find a way to keep rocking on, for lack of a better term. That’s the way I look at it. The minute I could get out of the hospital when I had that hemorrhage and they said I could do stuff, I was out," said the "Something to Believe In" singer.
"We had one relapse; then after that, I was back out. I just followed their physical therapy. And luckily, I got most everything back and I feel good."
As the sole diabetic child in his school, Michaels' classmates had a difficult time relating to his chronic condition. His caring parents saw this situation as an opportunity to create a camp for diabetic children where the kids could enjoy the camaraderie and relatability of fellow childhood diabetics.
"I was the only diabetic kid in my entire elementary school. My friends were great about it, but it was tough sometimes for them to relate to what I was going through. So my mom and dad formed the first diabetic camp in central Pennsylvania. It was Harrisburg Diabetic Youth Camp, which is still going today," recalled Michaels.
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