'I'm lucky to be alive': George Michael gave a press conference today reassuring fans that he is on the road to recovery after battling pneumonia
Looking frail and with a voice trembling with emotion, George Michael yesterday said he was lucky to be alive after his bout of severe pneumonia.
The 48-year-old star said he had come through ‘the worst month of my life’ after falling ill while preparing for a concert in Vienna.
Struggling to catch his breath and wearing a scarf to protect his neck, he revealed surgeons had performed a tracheotomy on him and it had been ‘touch and go’ if he would survive.
Michael spoke against the backdrop of a Christmas tree outside his London home
He had been in a coma and the surgical procedure was needed to open up his windpipe allowing him to breathe.
The former Wham! singer flew back to Britain earlier this week after regaining consciousness a fortnight ago with his family and boyfriend Fadi Fawaz at his bedside.
Appearing outside his North London home he said: ‘I’m not supposed to speak for too long. Merry Christmas everyone.’
Asked how he felt, Michael, who had provided mince pies to awaiting reporters and photographers, said: ‘I feel amazing, I mean I am very weak but I feel amazing.
‘I got streptococcus something. It’s a form of pneumonia and they spent three weeks keeping me alive basically.
‘It was by far the worst month of my life, but I am incredibly fortunate to be here and incredibly fortunate to have picked up this bug where I did.
‘Apparently the hospital in Austria that they rushed me to was absolutely the best place in the world I could have been.
Emotional: Michael appeared to be struggling to hold back his tears at points during the press conference
Thankful: Michael also revealed he would be performing a special one-off concert to say thank you to the doctors at the AKH hospital in Vienna
‘I have to believe that somebody still thinks that I have some work to do here. If I wasn’t spiritual enough before the last four to five weeks then I certainly am now.’
The singer said it was ‘his family’ that had kept him going and the thought of all the people he still had to perform before.
He added: ‘And the fact that I have been so lucky, the fact I still have plenty to live for, I have had an amazing, amazing life. I’m a new man.’
It wasn't long before he returned to his Twitter page, assuring fans he would be back to his old self soon.
Back on Twitter: Michael returned to the micro-blogging page after a month long silence
He tweeted: 'Hey everyone, your favourite homo is home :))).
I'm back and I'm proud, though not very loud...... (which, I assure you, will be temporary!) MERRY XMAS TO ALL OF YOU! ISN'T LIFE GRAND !! X.
'Good Night everyone, I'm getting an early night. Thank you all so much for your patience and your prayers. Don't worry, I'll be back to my foul mouthed ranting self soon enough.'
He was then forced to cancel the remaining shows on his hugely-acclaimed Symphonica Tour.
The tour began in Prague in the Czech Republic in August and saw him play 45 shows in 35 cities before it was cancelled.
He was due to play shows in Britain until the week before Christmas. As his condition deteriorated, the star’s family – Kyriacos Panayiotou, 75, known as Jack Panos, as well as his sisters Melanie, 49, and Yioda, 53 – flew to his bedside.
His former boyfriend, art dealer Kenny Goss was also said to have visited the star.
George added: ‘It was touch and go for a couple of weeks, we played it down, we didn’t want to worry my fans too much.’ Doctors have now prescribed a period of ‘full and complete rest’ to ensure he makes a complete recovery.
Generous: A plate of empty mince pie wrappers is seen on the floor. Michael provided photographers and journalists with festive treats before the conference
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk
http://www.mix4m.com/2011/12/george-michael-thanks-doctors-for.html
http://www.mix4m.com/2011/12/george-michael-thanks-doctors-for.html
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