The former 'Dancing With the Stars' contestant calls the health scare a "blessing in disguise."
Kim Zolciak was booted off Dancing With the Stars after she had a "mini stroke," but she calls the health scare a "blessing in disguise."
In her first interview since the hospitalization, Zolciak told Good Morning America's Michael Strahan on Thursday that the stroke brought to light a more serious condition.
WATCH: Alfonso Ribeiro on Kim Zolciak Getting Kicked Off Dancing With The Stars
"The minor TIA [transient ischemic attack] revealed that I have a PFO [patent foramen ovale], a hole in my heart that never closed," the mother-of-six said. She explained that she suffered a stroke because a blood clot was "able to cross over through the hole."
Zolciak says she's now "feeling great" and is grateful that her doctors took notice of her PFO when they did.
WATCH: Kim Zolciak Returns to Hospital After Suffering 'Mini Stroke'
With that said, she is disappointed that she's no longer competing on DWTS, and so are her fans. The ABC show refused to reverse their decision even after an online petition garnered more than 20,000 signatures in an attempt to bring Zolciak back to the competition.
The Bravo star is still keeping positive. "I love Dancing With the Stars," she told Strahan. "It's been the best experience of my life."
WATCH: Kim Zolciak Suffers Mini Stroke -- 'My Speech Was Gone'
While she won't be able to win the mirror ball trophy, Zolciak will hit the dance floor one last time. The 37-year-old confirmed that she will be back for the DWTS finale along with all the other contestants from this season.
Judge Carrie Ann Inaba told ET that she's sticking to her guns when it comes to keeping the Don't Be Tardy star returning as a competitor. "I feel bad for her but those are the rules, and you know, I am a strong abide by the rules," Inaba said. "It would be unfair to the other competitors."
