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Bret Michaels contributes music room to hospital
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“I want to give something back to the hospital that helped save my life.” Bret Michaels
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ret Michaels, rock star and former patient at St. Joseph’s Barrow Neurological Institute, announced plans to create the Bret Michaels Hospitality and Music Room inside the hospital during a recent press conference. “I want to give something back to the hospital that helped save my life,” said Michaels. “Phoenix is my home, and I’m proud to be a part of this community.” In April 2010, Michaels was rushed to Barrow suffering from a subarachnoid hemorrhage, a life-threatening type of stroke that causes bleeding in the fluidfilled spaces around the base of the brain. After being released from Barrow, Michaels made a rapid recovery and went on to win Celebrity Apprentice in 2010 and enjoy a successful national concert tour. Earlier this year, he returned to St. Joseph’s to undergo a heart procedure to close a hole in his heart. Michaels’ new music room, located near patient rooms in the Barrow Neuroscience Tower, will be designed to include music listening stations and relaxation areas for patients’ families. “It will be warm and hip,” says Michaels. The room is expected to be completed in 2012. “This room will be a very welcome addition for the families of our patients,” said St. Joseph’s President and CEO Linda Hunt. “Bret has demonstrated that he is a good friend to this hospital in several ways, and we thank him.” Michaels performed at the star-studded Celebrity Fight Night in Phoenix last March. He donated a dinner in his home to Celebrity Fight Night’s live auction, an item that raised $200,000, including $20,000 from the rock star. TheMuhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow is the main beneficiary of Celebrity Fight Night. ■