The family of America’s Got Talent star Michael Grimm has issued an update on his health update following his battle with a mystery illness.
The 44-year-old blues musician – who won season 5 of the talent show – was hospitalized on Memorial Day before being ‘sedated’ and put on a ventilator in intensive care.
His wife, Lucie Zolcerva-Grimm, has since taken to Facebook to announce that he is now showing signs of improvement and has been moved to a recovery facility for physical and speech therapy.
She has said that doctors are yet to diagnose a specific disease or syndrome but revealed that there were ‘multiple things happening at the same time.’
The family of America’s Got Talent star Michael Grimm has issued an update on his health update following his battle with a mystery illness
Lucie, who grew up in the Czech Republic, posted the video earlier today with an update on his condition
Lucie, who grew up in the Czech Republic, posted the video earlier today with an update on his condition.
She said: ‘He has been through a lot, it came on completely unexpectedly.’
Lucie reveals that being on a ventilator had made Michael’s ‘mind and body disconnect’ and he is now forced to release movement and speech.
But she confirmed: ‘I’m thrilled to say that his speaking voice is completely back… so the speech therapy part of it has been very successful.
‘They are starting on vocal exercises. He doesn’t have a singing voice yet but he is not stressed over it. He feels that with proper vocal exercises and retraining he will get back on track.’
Lucie continued: ‘He has gotten his mobility back so he is no longer walking with a walker or cane. He is walking on his own and that’s a huge thing for us – getting that leg strength back and getting his coordination and balance back – those are all massive things. That’s probably his biggest win right now.’
She revealed that over the coming weeks Michael would be working with doctors to regain finger dexterity in order for him to return to playing the guitar.
‘In his mind he knows how to play the guitar but physically he can’t so he’s got to rework all those muscles in the hands, work all those muscle memory things back into every day of life. So that’s something that he has got to work on,’ Lucie said.
The Mississippi star — who proposed to Lucie during a taping of The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2010 — had been feeling unwell for a while
She revealed that over the coming weeks Michael would be working with doctors to regain finger dexterity in order for him to return to playing the guitar
She said that overall Michael remained in ‘really good spirits’ but added: ‘He is a little bit emotionally disconnected I guess but I think that is to be expected.
‘He is suffering from a little bit of PTSD from being on the ventilator – I’m told that’s pretty common.
‘He was having hallucination issues and trying to distinguish reality from what was hallucination and what was lucid dreaming was a big barrier. To him everything was very real.’
Lucie said that the therapy had brought up some other ‘mental trauma’ for the America’s Got Talent star but said that the couple were taking it day by day.
She added: ‘He is very motivated. He is anxious to get back on stage, that is something he is missing and is focusing on whatever he can to make a full recovery quickly.’
Lucie revealed that his medical bills are currently at more than $200,000 – after their health insurance ‘did not activate in time’ to cover the emergency – with other performers rallying round to help contribute.
There is also an upcoming benefit concert being held in Las Vegas with proceedings going towards Michael’s ‘medical expenses and ongoing care.’
The Mississippi star — who proposed to Lucie during a taping of The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2010 — had been feeling unwell for a while and was having issues with lack of energy and having difficulty finishing his recent performances.
His wife previously said his health issues reached a boiling point in May, when Michael could ‘barely walk’ and could not lift his head, prompting her to take him to the emergency room.
‘I rushed him to the ER because I thought something was wrong, like he was having a stroke or something. That wasn’t the case, luckily.’
Raised by his grandparents who lost everything in Hurricane Katrina, Grimm entered the popular TV contest America’s Got Talent in 2010, in the hope that he would be able to buy them a new home
However, the situation only became worse from there as his blood pressure dangerously shot up and he began ‘talking gibberish.’
‘Whatever was going on in his body from whatever, toxins I guess, they were going to his brain, he started talking gibberish,’ Lucie revealed.
Lucie shared that most of his shows this month have been canceled and that he will need to ‘return to a state of health’ and undergo physical therapy due to being bedridden.
Raised by his grandparents who lost everything in Hurricane Katrina, Grimm entered the popular TV contest America’s Got Talent in 2010, in the hope that he would be able to buy them a new home.
He pulled off a surprise win in the TV contest, beating the favorite – at the time 10-year-old opera singer Jackie Evancho in the final.
‘I really thought Jackie had it in the bag,’ the shocked singer said after scooping the $1 million prize.
‘My grandparents don’t have to worry about anything any more,’ he told the audience. ‘I can’t put into words what that means to me.
‘They’ve supported me in the music through the years, and they’ve seen me fall and get back up and keep going. Now I can take care of them.’
‘This is definitely an out-of-body experience. This whole journey has been, but especially now.’
Prior to his AGT success Grimm performed at Las Vegas, Nevada, casinos for eleven years.