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Merle Haggard Back In Hospital For More Treatment
Country music legend Merle Haggard says he’s nearly over the case of double pneumonia that has kept him in Georgia hospital for most of the last week.
Doctors found the 74-year-old had several other ailments while he was recovering in a Macon, Ga., hospital. Spokeswoman Tresa Redburn says they diagnosed him with three stomach ulcers, eight polyps in his colon and diverticulitis of the esophagus.
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Northern Lights Theater, Milwaukee, Wisc.
“Thanks to all the wonderful people all over the world that prayed their special prayers. I’m a new man,” Haggard said in a statement issued through Redburn. “Another special thanks to the folks of Macon, Ga., for their kindness, intelligence and probably saving my life.”
Haggard checked into a hospital and postponed his January tour dates last Tuesday after contracting pneumonia.
He checked himself out Friday and tried to make the ride home to Redding, Calif., on his tour bus. Haggard quickly realized he wasn’t up to the trip and returned to Macon, Redburn said.
Haggard is now undergoing a more aggressive antibiotic treatment for pneumonia.
The “Okie from Muskogee” singer had part of a lung removed a few years ago while fighting cancer. It’s unclear at this point how Haggard’s tour schedule to support his latest album, “Walking in Tennessee,” will be affected. His website shows his next date is Feb. 28 in Tuscon, Ariz.