Bedside Vigil For George Michael's Family

While spokespersons continue to downplay the severity of his condition, the family of George Michael has flown to Austria for what the Telegraph describes as a "bedside vigil."

The singer, who is being treated in hospital in Vienna, Austria, is said to be responding to treatment and "slowly improving". He had been joined by his 75-year-old father Kyriacos Panayiotou, who is known as Jack Panos, as well as sisters Melanie, 49 and Yioda, 53. His former boyfriend, art dealer Kenny Goss, is also due to join the group in the Austrian capital shortly. The 48-year-old star’s boyfriend, hair stylist Fadi Fawaz, has kept a bedside vigil since the singer fell ill on Monday of last week. Fawaz, 38, reportedly appeared tired and drawn as he left the hospital over the weekend. He was accompanied by two women, believed to be Michael’s sisters, one of whom held her head in her hands waiting in the hospital lobby.

Christian activists on Twitter continue to gleefully report on Michael's condition. Some are openly praying for his "death from AIDS." No reliable report has ever been issued on Michael's HIV status.

George Michael Condition Worsens!!

Doctors treating singer George Michael on the 13th floor of the Vienna AKH general hospital say his condition has worsened overnight.

He was hospitalised on Monday after a doctor was called to his suite at the Hotel imperial in Vienna's posh first district and diagnosed breathing difficulties.

He was taken by ambulance to the city's top Rudolfiner private hospital in the 19th district of the city, where a decision was taken to move him to the main general hospital - the AKH.

The hospital refused to say why the star was moved but it is believed it was decided that the singer's condition was so acute that it would be better if he was moved to the AKH - the biggest in Europe and where many of the continent's top medical experts are based because of the advanced facilities it offers for research as well as treatment.

The hospital has two skyscrapers, identified for navigating around the huge complex as the red tower and the green tower. He is currently in intensive care on the 13th floor of the red tower as a result of heart problems believed to be caused by the shortage of oxygen caused by his pneumonia.

On Thursday afternoon he was fitted into a special full-body bed designed to keep all the pressure off his lungs and to help them to function - so far without any sign of improvement.

Head doctor from the nearby Otto Wagner Hospital, Norbert Vetter, said that the reason a person with a lung problem was being treated in the cardiac unit probably lay in the fact that if there was a lung problem - and not enough oxygen being taken into the body - then that could affect the heart especially if the heart had already been damaged in some way. He added in the worst case the heart could cease to function.

AKH spokeswoman Karin Fehringer said: "We have no comment to make on this matter at the request of the patient."

But a hospital insider confirmed that the singer's condition had worsened. He said: "I have not seen him myself but cardiac specialists and internists are treating him round the clock." Internists specialise in treating adults with multi-system disease problems in hospitals.

A spokesman for his management team would only confirm his condition remained "bad".

Vienna Times

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George Michael Hospitalized

George Michael is reportedly worsening after being admitted on Monday to an Austrian hospital for the treatment of pneumonia. His management has announced the cancellation of the remaining dates on his world tour. Via yesterday's Vienna Times:

He is currently in intensive care on the 13th floor of the red tower as a result of heart problems believed to be caused by the shortage of oxygen caused by his pneumonia.

On Thursday afternoon he was fitted into a special full-body bed designed to keep all the pressure off his lungs and to help them to function - so far without any sign of improvement. Head doctor from the nearby Otto Wagner Hospital, Norbert Vetter, said that the reason a person with a lung problem was being treated in the cardiac unit probably lay in the fact that if there was a lung problem - and not enough oxygen being taken into the body - then that could affect the heart especially if the heart had already been damaged in some way. He added in the worst case the heart could cease to function.

Business Week quotes one of the singer's doctors as saying he has "severe community acquired pneumonia." Michael's spokesman confirmed his condition as "bad." Some tabloids are already rushing out with AIDS rumors and commenters on anti-gay sites like Free Republic are saying exactly the sort of things you'd expect from loving Christians.

UPDATE: Pink News reports that Michael's team is denying the Vienna Times report about his heart.

The star’s spokeswoman said in a statement: “George Michael is ill with pneumonia and any other speculation regarding his illness is unfounded and untrue. “He is receiving excellent medical care, he is responding to treatment and slowly improving”. A source told the Daily Mail: “George has woken up and he’s in good spirits. Doctors are very pleased with him, and he’s making progress.” “He’s been in terrible pain. He’s had a dreadful chest infection, but he’s been in good care. He’s in very capable hands”.

Our prayers are with you George!