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American Idol Contestant Won't Let Medical Issue Stop Him

03/16/2012
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(TMZ) "American Idol" contestant Phillip Phillips' bum kidney will NOT end his run on the show -- TMZ has learned, he's still determined to compete ... even after undergoing an extremely painful medical procedure.

TMZ broke the story, Phillip -- who has a long kidney stone history -- was rushed to a medical facility last week, complaining of some nasty abdominal pain.

According to sources, Phillip underwent a procedure to install a 'stent' in his kidney -- a kind of medical tube thing -- to help alleviate a blockage caused by kidney stones.

Here's the catch -- stents are super painful ... the kind of pain that makes it hard to compete on a nationally-televised singing competition.

But Phillip's dad tells us, his kid wants to stay in the competition as long as possible -- despite the excruciating pain caused by the stent ... and won't have it removed 'til his "Idol" run is done.

Kid really does have some serious stones. more on this story

TMZ submitted this story.
Copyright TMZ - Excerpted here with permission.

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