Michael Jackson’s father Joe suffers stroke in Brazil

SAO PAULO, Brazil– The father of “King of Pop” Michael Jackson was in a Brazilian hospital Monday, July 27  after suffering a stroke hours before a huge birthday bash in his honor, doctors said.

Officials at Sao Paulo’s Albert Einstein hospital said they admitted Joe Jackson at about 1700 GMT on Sunday, July 26.

“The patient is being treated in the intensive care unit after being diagnosed with ischemic stroke associated with cardiac arrhythmia,” the hospital said.

Local media said the huge $200,000 birthday celebration in Jackson’s honor – he turned 87 on Sunday – went on as planned, even though the guest of honor was in the hospital.

Jackson wrote in anticipation about the celebration on his website http://www.jwjackson.com, saying he planned to mark the day “in style.”

“Join me on the 26th of July to celebrate 87 full years on earth,” he wrote.

“The greatest adventure you can take on this world, is to live your life and enjoy the ride.”

Reports said one of Brazil’s famed samba clubs was scheduled to perform, as were well-known local singers, while a sumptuous spread of Brazilian fare was on the birthday menu.

The Jackson family patriarch’s most famous offspring, singer Michael Jackson, died 6 years ago.

An autopsy determined that the pop legend’s July 2009 death was caused by an overdose of the powerful anesthetic drug Propofol, which he had been misusing as a sleep aid with the help of his doctor. – Rappler.com