While Michael Jackson is typically the punchlines of all sorts of jokes, he is now in a very serious condition, if InTouch sources are to be believed. The magazine is reporting that Michael Jackson is suffering from the rare genetic disease Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.

award-winning investigative journalist Ian Halperin tells In Touch that he believes that the King of Pop is fighting for is life. “Michael has a very severe lung condition called Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency,” Halperin, a New York Times best-selling author, tells In Touch exclusively. “He’s had it for years but it’s gotten worse. He needs a lung transplant but may be too weak to go through with it. He also has emphysema and chronic gastrointestinal bleeding, which his doctors have had a lot of trouble stopping. It’s the bleeding that is the most problematic part. It could kill him.

Needing a transplant, but being too weak to get one done, is never a good combination. Couple that with chronic bleeding, and there is cause for much concern. And, of course, there is more on the actual disease itself.

Because this genetic disease is so rare - Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency affects just 1 in 5,000 Americans - it’s been difficult to treat, says Halperin. “For years, Michael has been working with his own doctors to make sure his condition doesn’t progress. He has been on many medications that have stabilized him.” But as the disease has progressed, Halperin says that the pop star’s quality of life has diminished. “He can barely speak,” says Halperin. “Also, the vision in his left eye is 95 percent gone.”

If you have any other questions about the serious nature of Michael’s condition right now, his brother Jermaine recently told Fox News that “He’s not doing so well right now. This isn’t a good time.” Needless to say, we are pulling for Michael.