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Kim Zolciak Discovered She Has a Heart Condition After Stroke: “It Was a Blessing in Disguise”

She considers herself lucky. After suffering a mini stroke last month, Kim Zolciak opened up to Good Morning America on Thursday, Oct. 9, about the health scare and subsequent findings discovered by her doctors that resulted in her leaving the current season of Dancing With the Stars.

“I’m feeling great,” Zolciak, 37, told Michael Strahan. “On the whole flight I was nervous, but I feel great.”

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As previously reported, the Don’t Be Tardy star suffered several mini strokes on Sept. 24, and was subsequently hospitalized.

“It was a blessing in disguise,” Zolciak said Thursday on GMA. “The minor TIA revealed that I have a PFO, which is like a hole in your heart. I was born with it and it never closed. That’s what caused it, basically.”

The always-outspoken Zolciak also addressed her haters, especially those who’ve alleged she fabricated her illness.

“I think it’s sick that somebody would ever think that and some of the people that have said that, it just shows me their mentality,” she told Strahan. “I don’t think that many people would really fake a stroke. Especially since I love Dancing With the Stars. It’s been one of the best experiences of my life. It’s been very difficult for me to not be on the show.”

Kim Zolciak on Dancing with the Stars
Kim Zolciak on Dancing with the Stars

Indeed, after Zolciak’s exit from DWTS was announced on the Sept. 29 episode the Real Housewives of Atlanta alum petitioned to return to the show.

“I was able to dance, I just couldn’t fly,” Zolciak reflected on Thursday, expressing disappointment. “I feel like they could’ve done something via satellite. They’ve made exceptions in the past… I tried to kind of get an answer because I really do love the show. I love everybody — the producers, the casting directors all kind of fought for me, but in the end it was the lawyers that made the decision.”

Kim Zolciak
Kim Zolciak Biermann attends ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” photo op at CBS Studios on September 14.

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All is not lost, however. This past weekend, Zolciak revealed that she will be heading back to the ballroom next month for the finale episode. “I’m not sure what they’re going to have me doing,” she said. “I don’t care. I’m just so excited to be there.”

Zolciak is married to NFL player Kroy Biermann, with whom she shares four kids, Kroy Jr., 4, Kash, 3, and twins Kane, and Kaia, nearly 2. She’s also mom to Brielle, 18, and Ariana, 13, her kids from previous relationships. Both daughters were adopted by Biermann shortly after he wed Zolciak.

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