Rock star created & funded a place for patients to relax
Rocker Bret Michaels on Tuesday officially opened the "Bret Michaels Hospitality and Music Room" at St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix. It was nearly a year ago that Michaels announced the project, intended to give patients in the hospital a place to get out of their rooms, listen to music, watch music videos, or just relax.
Michaels, who lives in Scottsdale, spent 12 days at St. Joseph's as a patient in 2010 after suffering a brain hemorrhage. As he was walking the halls of the hospital during his stay, Michaels noted that patients were pretty much confined to their rooms, without a place to "get away from it all" and get their mind off their situation.
As a result, he came up with the concept of a music lounge. He helped design the facility, funded it through his foundation, and he and his family even helped decorate the room while it was under construction.
"Regardless of what you like or what you listen to, music is such a huge healer for people," Michaels said at Tuesday's opening. "It gets you up when you need to get up, and if you're feeling down, there's music you can relate to."
He hopes it provides comfort to a lot of patients.
PHOTOS: Bret Michaels and his doctors yank down the banner covering the entrance to the music lounge.
Michaels hams for the camera as reporters get their first look at the new lounge:
The room includes a big video screen, posters, some of his guitars, comfortable seats and tables, and other rock memorabilia.
