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'Dancing With the Stars': Kim Zolciak to undergo heart surgery

By Wade Sheridan
Kim Zolciak arrives for the VH1 Divas at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Brooklyn, New York on Sept. 17, 2009. Zolciak was forced to withdraw from "Dancing with the Stars," following her recent mini-stroke. File Photo by UPI/Laura Cavanaugh
1 of 2 | Kim Zolciak arrives for the VH1 Divas at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Brooklyn, New York on Sept. 17, 2009. Zolciak was forced to withdraw from "Dancing with the Stars," following her recent mini-stroke. File Photo by UPI/Laura Cavanaugh | License Photo

ALPHARETTA, Ga., Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Former Dancing with the Stars contestant Kim Zolciak has revealed that she will be undergoing heart surgery following her mini stroke.

Zolciak opened up about the procedure and her current health problems Thursday to with E! News.

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"I have one of the top cardiologists in the country who's amazing," Zolciak said. "Anything that has to do with your heart and brain is pretty scary, but heck, I've been through it. I'm okay."

The dancer was forced to withdraw from Dancing with the Stars back in September after suffering a transient ischemic attack (TIA) after landing in Georgia from the DWTS set in Los Angeles. The attack took Zolciak's speech and left her entire left side numb.

"It literally happened in a second and my whole life changed," the 37-year-old shared.

Still, Zolciak is confident that she can return to the competition for the show's season finale.

"I'll be back for the finale, which is so exciting," Zolciak said. "Nobody's told me what I'm doing. I gave them kind of a suggestion. I just love everybody on the show, I love the whole network, so hopefully they'll go with what I suggest!"

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However Zolciak's other suggestion of returning next season has already been shot down by producers.

"I think I was more heartbroken when I asked that question on Sunday, the day before the actual performance, well I can just come back another season, they said you can't because you've already learned the dances," she said.

Regardless, Zolciak has still enjoyed her time on the show despite her forced exit.

"I'm not going to risk my life for anything, but it still doesn't make it any easier because I really loved the show," she says. "I love everybody on the show. I love everything about it. I didn't think I was going to love it. I think that's maybe why it's been so hard for me. They've asked me a number of times to do the show, and I always declined, and then I just really fell in love with it."

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