BRET MICHAELS: 'I'm Lucky To Be Alive'

Less than two weeks after POISON frontman Bret Michaels was hospitalized for a massive subarachnoid brain hemorrhage, he was discharged from Barrow Neurological Institute in Arizona to receive physical therapy at an undisclosed location.

"I opened my eyes, and was like, 'I am so thankful. I'm lucky to be alive," Bret told People magazine in his first interview about the ordeal. "It just wasn't my time yet!"

"I'm a believer it's a combination of will and faith [that kept me alive]," the 47-year-old singer explained. "Will — and good medical attention — and faith."

According to Bret, his family was the only thing running through his mind when he first started experiencing pain the night of April 21. "I was just sad," he said. "I was not going to have my family wake up and see me dead on the living room floor. [And, I was] sad thinking of my daughters growing up without me."

When the doctor asked if he had kids and if he wanted them to come to the hospital in case the unthinkable happened, Bret asked, "Am I dying? If I'm dying, I want to see my kids, but if I have a chance to [live], I don't want them to see me in this condition." The doctor responded, "Well, there's obviously a chance. You're still alive, and people die instantly from this."

Added Bret, "It's the weirdest thing: You feel so much love and realize in a moment, in an instant … you focus on what becomes really important. I want to continue to rock the world, and I want to continue to love my family and be a good father. I was given a second chance!"