Dearon “Deezer D” Thompson, who played the character Malik on the hit series ER for 15 years, was hospitalized earlier this week due to a heart valve and aorta condition.

Dearon, who had been suffering from chronic pneumonia these past months, was immediately admitted to the Cardio wing at Cedars in Los Angeles, following a brief check up. Doctors have diagnosed Thompson with the same aorta condition that actor John Ritter passed away from in 2003.

D shares openly on his current condition,

“I have a heart valve that is leaking and the aorta had expanded to way beyond what it is supposed to be.  As soon as the doctor identified what was going on, he put me in here.”

The aorta is the largest artery in the body and carries blood away from the heart to all the other arteries, Cedars Cardiologist explains.

“The problem with my aorta is the same thing that killed John Ritter,” Dearon said.  “I am so grateful that my doctor found it in time.”

Deezer D will under go heart surgery in an attempt to replace his aorta and fix the valve. Surgery is currently scheduled for this coming Tuesday at Cedars, where he will remain to recover.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you D!