The doctor quotes Pope’s “surprising improvement” after surviving fatal crises

Rome – Rome (AP) – Pope Francis has shown a really surprising improvement ‘since his return to the Vatican for convalescence after surviving a deadly fight with double pneumonia, the doctor who coordinated the hospitalization of the pontiff on Saturday.

“I find him very alive,” said Dr. Sergio Alfieri, after visiting the Pope in his apartment at Santa Marta Domus on Wednesday, three days after his release from the Gemelli Hospital in Rome. “I think it will come back if it will not come back 100%, 90% of the place it was before.” ”

Francis appeared frail and weak, welcoming a host of sympathizers of a hospital balcony on Sunday. His voice was declined as he praised a woman in the crowd for bringing yellow flowers. He could only partially raise his arm to bless people and dropped for the air when he had returned inside.

Alfieri said that the Pope’s voice resumed strength and that his dependence on additional oxygen has decreased. The limited mobility of his arm was due to an undeveloped trauma that he suffered before being hospitalized, and this will take time to heal, said Alfieri.

The 88 -year -old pope was hospitalized on February 14 after a long fight with bronchitis which sometimes left him out of breath, and which quickly turned into double pneumonia and revealed a polymicrobial respiratory infection (viral, bacterial and fungal). Throughout the test, the doctors stressed the complexity of his state, given his age, the lack of mobility requiring a wheelchair and the elimination of a part of a lung as a young man.

Alfieri repeated that he did not think that the pope would make after a serious respiratory crisis a week after being hospitalized, and he informed the Pope that a “decisive” treatment necessary to save him would endanger his organs.

“ He gave his consent, then he looked at a Massimiliano Streptpetti, which he appointed his personal health assistant who assumed responsibility, to say: “ We approve everything ”, also at the cost of leaving the kidneys or damaged bone marrow that produces damage red cells, “said Alfieri.

Alfieri preferred to describe the treatment as “decisive”, and not aggressive, and stressed that no extraordinary measure and extended to life has never been taken. The February 22 incident was one of the many critical moments when the Pope’s life was suspended, said the doctor.

While Francis beat the double pneumonia in the hospital, Alfieri said that he continued to treat fungal infection, which, according to him, would take months to solve. The Pope also receives physical, respiratory and speech therapies.

Alfieri continues to consult the Pope’s personal medical team daily and will visit Francis at the Vatican every week.

The Pope demonstrated his brand humor during this week’s visit, responding to a comment from Alfieri that the 88 -year -old pontiff was one or 60 years. “While I leaned, he said,” Not 50, 40, “recalls Alfieri.” Then his common sense of humor is back. »»

Doctors ordered the Pope to rest for at least two months and avoid crowds. But after seeing the Improvements of the Pope and known his work ethics, Alfieri warned that “if he recovers so quickly, they will have to put the brakes”.