Artist: Amy Winehouse

With Nelson Mandela’s birthday concert in Hyde Park (Friday) and Glastonbury 2008 (Saturday) looming, Amy Winehouse has apparently snuck out of hospital to rehearse. Concerns that she might not make either are pouring in.

Wino has been diagnosed with lung disease emphysema, which doctors say has been caused by her smoking crack cocaine. Amy's father Mitch said to The Mirror that she began a drug replacement program in a private London hospital. "She's been told if she goes back to smoking crack it will not only ruin her voice, it will kill her too."

The Grammy-award winning singer who was admitted to hospital after collapsing at home last week, told doctors she hadn't slept in two days, they found she was suffering from an irregular heartbeat. After having scans – which showed a lump in her chest – cancer was immediately ruled out and they diagnosed her with the lung disease. The troubled star who is scheduled to play at Glastonbury this weekend, has been told the disease could leave her using an oxygen mask and confined to a wheelchair… unless she stops smoking completely.

Words by Irene Asanji

amywinehouse.co.uk

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