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Etta James Still Hospitalized With Breathing Problems

The legendary singer's long-time producer says she's "in pretty bad shape."

As reported earlier this week, Etta James, who was recently diagnosed with terminal leukemia, was hospitalized on Wednesday. Now a close associate has revealed that she was experiencing difficulty breathing, and has been placed on a respiratory machine.

Lupe De Leon, the R&B legend's long-time manager, says the singer is "in pretty bad shape" and that it remains unclear whether she will be able to be released.
"They took her to the hospital," he told Reuters yesterday. "She was having trouble breathing, so they intubated her. She is on a breathing machine and is resting."

James was taken to a hospital near her home in Riverside, east of Los Angeles, on Wednesday night, with her family at her side.
"It is really sad. She is like my sister," De Leon said.

The singer has been in poor health for a several years, suffering from leukemia, kidney disease and dementia, and had been receiving mostly at-home care.

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