‘New’ Michael Jackson Returns
Michael Jackson says that he is returning to the KABC-AM (790) airwaves today a changed man.
After several weeks of recuperating from open-heart surgery, he has changed both in the expected ways--having shed 12 pounds, lowered his cholesterol and increased his exercise regimen--and in some less tangible ways.
“It’s been the start of a whole new appreciation of life,” said Jackson, 57.
His ordeal began in January, after returning from a family ski trip to St. Moritz. He experienced burning in his chest, which he attributed to indigestion, despite having had a heart attack eight years before.
He finally went to a doctor, who found that all four of his coronary arteries were blocked and called for quadruple bypass surgery. The operation lasted 5 1/2 hours.
“I’ve gone from being rather blocked up to completely 100%, all my arteries open,” Jackson said. “I have a nice new heart now.”
He has been off the air for seven weeks, although for the last few he would call in periodically to chat with substitute host Susan Estrich.
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