Bret Michaels Draws Strength From Family

Life hasn't been easy for Bret Michaels, who was diagnosed with diabetes as a child. However, despite his recent medical upsets, his determination to succeed in life remains unwavering - a lesson he learned early on from his parents.

Life hasn’t been easy for Bret Michaels, who was diagnosed with diabetes as a child.

However, despite his recent medical upsets, his determination to succeed in life remains unwavering — a lesson he learned early on from his parents.

“I had great parents that allowed me to do all the things I wanted to do, but told me, ‘You gotta buck up and you’re going to have to work harder to achieve things,'” the rocker opens up to PARADE.

Now 47 and dad to Raine Elizabeth, 10, and Jorja Bleu, 5, his daughters with Kristi Gibson, Michaels says his girls have more than stepped up to the plate.

“The night I had my brain hemorrhage, my two daughters and Kristi truthfully saved my life. That’s the God honest truth,” he reveals. “When it all hit the fan, when it came to that moment that I needed to react, my family rallied behind me, and as a father, I didn’t want them to wake up in the morning and see me collapsed on the floor.”

The close father-daughter bond Michaels shares with Raine and Jorja makes the long periods of separation, brought about by his tour schedule, almost unbearable. That said, the heartbreaking “moment we say goodbye” is natural, the proud papa explains.

“It shouldn’t be easy, because if it were easy, then we probably wouldn’t love each other so much,” he muses. “I sit down and I explain that I’m going away and that I’ll be back. We look at the schedules and plan it out.”

And as their talk turns from his tour to his time that will be spent shopping — and how many gifts will be brought home! — both girls’ sadness quickly becomes excitement.

“Daughters are good — they key it up right on cue and I’m a sucker and I give them whatever necessary,” Michaels admits.

— Anya Leon