Did A Psychic Predict Barbara Walters’ Heart Surgery?

Barbara Walters announced to the world on this past Monday’s episode of “The View” that she’s having heart surgery – but did a psychic predict her medical plight almost two years earlier?

“You know how healthy I have been – never missed a day’s work. Later this week, I am going to have surgery to replace one faulty heart valve,” Barbara said on “The View.” “I have known of this condition for a while now and my doctors and I have decided that this is the best time to do the surgery.”

However, on July 8, 2008, psychic James Van Praagh appeared on “The View” with Barbara, and took her aside after the show to tell her privately that he sensed something was wrong.

“He came up to me and said, ‘I need to talk to you,’” Barbara explained later on the show on July 17, 2008, growing visibly heated. “[He said], ‘There’s something wrong with your blood, and there’s something wrong with your lower back.’

“So even though I knew this was ridiculous, I called my doctor. [Van Praagh] said I had too many white blood cells. It could be elevated,” she continued.

However, at the time, she said she got a clean bill of health.

“I am absolutely normal!” Barbara said loudly. “I think it’s a dangerous thing to do, looking at someone and saying, ‘You have an elevated white blood count.’”

Van Praagh responded in the New York Post, explaining he was “sorry that Ms. Walters chose to publicly disparage me” after their private conversation.

Neither “The View” nor personal reps for Barbara would comment on her surgery today when reached by Access Hollywood.

to read Access’ new interview with James Van Praagh!