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Joe Jackson: Stress Didn't Kill My Son

Sunday , June 28, 2009

LOS ANGELES — 

Nearly two days after the untimely death of Michael Jackson, the King of Pop's father told FOX News in an exclusive interview that he does not think stress killed his son.

In an interview with FOX News' Geraldo Rivera, Jackson's father Joe said "we're going to miss the great superstar, the biggest known in the world."

When asked if he will be more well known in death than life, Joe Jackson said the attention "should have been done while he was alive so he could enjoy it."

Joe Jackson also said Michael's children are doing "fantastic," are with his family and "are enjoying themselves with the other kids."

A statement released to People magazine by Jackson's family Saturday said their "pain cannot be described in words."

The family said they "miss Michael endlessly" and in "one of the darkest moments of our lives we find it hard to find the words appropriate to this sudden tragedy we all had to encounter."

"Our beloved son, brother and father of three children has gone so unexpectedly, in such a tragic way and much too soon. It leaves us, his family, speechless and devastated to a point, where communication with the outside world seems almost impossible at times."

Jackson's family ordered a second autopsy through a private expert, after the Los Angeles Coroner's Office said Friday its autopsy had yet to determine a cause of death for the pop music icon.

Jackson family members reportedly have been frustrated and angry over what they see as a lack of information about Jackson's final hours and the authorities' delay of up to six weeks in determining Jackson's cause of death at age 50.

PHOTOS: Click here for photos of Michael Jackson.

A person close to the family told the Associated Press that while there were reports that the singer was distant from his family, Jackson spoke with his mother Katherine quite regularly and his father, Joe, had seen his son shortly before his death. His other eight siblings, including fellow superstar Janet, may not have talked to him recently but were not estranged.

Much of the family was holed up Friday inside the Jackson family's Encino compound, including his three children, according to the person, who described them as doing looking "pretty good."

"I don't think it's fully set in yet," the person said.

No family members were present in the mansion when Jackson died Thursday, the person close to the family said. In the 911 call released by fire officials Friday, an unidentified caller tells a dispatcher that Jackson's doctor is performing CPR.

Asked by the dispatcher whether anyone saw what happened, the caller answers: "No, just the doctor, sir. The doctor has been the only one there."

Jackson appeared to have suffered a heart attack, another person with knowledge of the situation who was not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity told the AP on Friday. A heart attack is a blocking of the arteries that deprives the heart of adequate blood and can cause cardiac arrest.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

 

 

Information last updated May 3, 2009, 10:00 AM Central Time The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals is closely monitoring the outbreak of a strain of Swine Influenza never seen before.  DHH is working closely with its state and federal partners to prevent further infections and monitor the spread of the virus using a statewide surveillance system.  While Swine Flu is typical among pigs, the mutation of the virus which has allowed for human-to-human transmission is new.  Because the virus characterized in this outbreak has not previously been identified in pigs or humans, a vaccine does not yet exist, making humans vulnerable to the illness.  Clinicians are urged to aggressively watch for patients with respiratory illness or fever.  Individuals who may be exhibiting symptoms are urged to restrict contact with others and seek medical treatment. The symptoms of swine flu are nearly identical to the symptoms of other types of influenza, including high fever, aches, coughing and congestion.
Louisiana Confirmed Cases 7	United States Confirmed Cases 226
As of 5/3/2009 - 7:00 PM CST
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Guidance for Clinicians & Public Health Professionals (CDC) Information on Swine Influenza for Medical Providers (DHH/OPH) Interim Guidance For First Responders EMS Best Practices (pdf) Pandemic Flu Resources (DHH/OPH) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Governor's Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness U.S. Department of Homeland Security World Health Organization Taking Care Of Sick People In Your Home