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Phillip Phillips had an amazing run up to his final performance when he became the winner of this season’s “American Idol” competition. He never ended up in the bottom three and the judges’ feedback was never as harsh as some of the other contestants faced. But behind the scenes is where the real endurance took place, with Phillips having eight surgeries during his time on the show.

As hard as that is to fathom, it’s true. The 21-year-old Georgia native had to undergo eight different surgeries as treatment for a chronic kidney problem. Phillips has a condition that results in a recurrent build-up of kidney stones, which then require surgery for removal. His next surgery, however, will be much more serious.
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Phillips is getting ready to have kidney reconstruction surgery before joining the top 10 contestants from the show for the “American Idol” tour that kicks off in Detroit on July 6th. Recovery time is supposed to be two to four weeks, and Phillips’ father told People Magazine that he has confidence that he’ll be ready for the tour:
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“He’s healthy, he’s good. His kidneys are good. I can’t wait for America and the whole world to see him [after his surgery], because he’s a big cut-up. He’s going to have some fun.”
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Phillips shared his thoughts as well, saying the season was hard but that he’s looking forward to the tour:
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“I’m going to get some surgery done, so I’m going to get all better for the tour. It was very tough [getting through the season]. I had great doctors and great people surrounding me [who] really helped out, so it’s just a blessing to be here.”
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Knowing his struggle behind the scenes makes his win even more amazing, don’t you agree? Let us know what you think in the comments below.