Phillip Phillips 'Has Been In Pain The Whole Time,' Says His Mom
May 24 2012, Published 3:00 p.m. ET
By Breaking Celebrity News Staff
Phillip Phillips endured more than just the stress of making the next round every week to become the winner of American Idol, his parents exclusively tell Breaking Celebrity News the pain caused by his kidney stones was almost unbearable.
"He’s doing good right now, but it’s been a long hard struggle for him," his father Phillip Phillips Sr. said on Wednesday night following his victory.
"I’m so proud of him. He just sucked it up and endured and he overcomes."
His mother Sheryl Phillips added, "That’s our baby and we’re just so happy that he made it through."
Earlier in the season, Phillip, 21, made an emergency visit to the doctor for kidney stones that he's unable to pass and will eventually need surgery for.
"He’s got to have reconstructive surgery on his kidney. That’s why he has a stint in him," his dad said.
"He’s had a surgery since he started American Idol already to get through. That’s why they put the stint in him so they could keep his kidney functioning good. Physically he’s in good shape. He said it’s painful wearing the stint. That’s why you see him moving like an old man. He can’t move. I can’t wait until he has his surgery and he recovered and ya’ll see him 100%."