Chicago Tribune
Joe Jackson, father of the famous musical Jackson family, was hospitalized recently after a check-up following complaints of feeling ill. The patriarch, who has 11 grandchildren and another on the way from daughter Janet Jackson, suffered a mild stroke in November 2012. His family feared he had another one.
A source tells Us Weekly the 87-year-old was very sick and had not been feeling well since last week.
“They couldn’t really pinpoint what was wrong with him. He had an extremely high fever,” the source tells the magazine.
Jackson, who was admitted to a Los Angeles hospital May 13, suffered another stroke more recently in July 2015, after celebrating his birthday São Paulo. Wife of 67 years Katherine Jackson has visited the father of The Jackson 5. Some of their children and grandchildren have also stopped by.
Son Jermaine Jackson spoke to TMZ over the weekend. He told them his father was “doing much better” at the time and that his vital signs were stable.
Jermaine said Joe has not been ill with anything “but he’s just tired, he’s 87.”
“Listen, my father’s very strong,” Jermaine added. “He’s up there telling jokes, and he’s very strong. But he’s doing fine. We’re just making sure we hold on to him as long as we can. That’s what’s most important.”
The fourth child in the family also confirmed that his father was on good terms with everyone. The news differs from a 2014 report by The New York Post that claimed Joe was no longer part of the family.
The strict father of nine living children wrote a post on his website that year suggesting his relationship with his kids was strained.
“When I suffered four strokes last year and was in the hospital recovering, only two people in my family traveled all the way to see me,” he wrote. “My granddaughter Brandi and my baby girl – Janet.”
People reports Joe remains hospitalized and is under close supervision. A family insider tells the magazine “it was very serious, but he is out of danger now.”
