Ballesteros released from intensive care

Eurosport - Fri, 05 Dec 09:28:00 2008

Spanish golf legend Seve Ballesteros has been released from intensive care, one day after he underwent his fourth operation since being diagnosed with a brain tumour in October.

GOLF 2008 Severiano Ballesteros - 0

"Ballesteros is doing well and has already left the intensive care unit. He is back in the ward," Madrid's La Paz Hospital said in a statement.

Doctors on Tuesday implanted a valve in the 51-year-old's brain and performed a cranioplasty to repair a bone defect in his skull.

Ballesteros, who collected 87 titles before knee and back problems forced him to retire last year, was taken to the hospital on October 6 after he collapsed and briefly lost consciousness at Madrid airport.

He announced he had a brain tumour on October 12 after first personally informing his ex-wife and their three teenage children of the diagnosis.

Two days later, he underwent surgery to remove the tumour, and on October 16, he had a second operation to ease a build-up of fluid in the brain.

On October 24, Ballesteros underwent a third successful operation to ease swelling in his brain and remove the remains of a tumour.

He has called his battle against the tumour the "hardest challenge of my life".

Regarded as one of golf's all-time greats, Ballesteros won five Majors. He won the Open in 1979, 1984 and 1988 and became the first European to win the Augusta Masters in 1980, an achievement he repeated in 1983.

Ballesteros was also an influential figure in the Ryder Cup, winning 20 points from 37 matches and captaining Europe to victory at Valderrama in 1997.

AFP

Comment 3 - 22 of 22

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  1. God be with you Sev and your family BT

    From elizabethdowdeswell, on Mon 8 Dec 12:00PM

  2. Seve,
    Hey There. You have been my inspiration for­ years and I hope that you make a full recovery and­ inspire me even more. You have done more for European­ golf than you can ever imagine. A sure genius. Get well­ soon. Stan.

    From stanleytinney, on Sun 7 Dec 9:19PM

  3. Wishing you a speedy recovery, I have been through the­ same and am similar age and I was back in full time­ work within 9mths after a crainiotomy to remove half­ the malignant tumour and many weeks of radiotherapy so­ if I can do it you definately can, I live for today­ with the hope of many more quality years ahead

    From jennet.pendle, on Sun 7 Dec 6:45PM

  4. miguel b - you moron. best wishes seve.

    From AJP M, on Sun 7 Dec 2:03PM

  5. He will always be my hero god bless you sevy, get well­ soon

    From paul c, on Wed 3 Dec 5:22PM

  6. God be with you Seve and with your family.

    From THOMAS F, on Wed 3 Dec 4:48PM

  7. keep going sevvy you will win in the end , god bless­ you and your family !

    From werdnarekrab, on Wed 3 Dec 12:46PM

  8. WELL SAID GRAHAM P !! I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU. MIGUEL­ B YOU ARE INDEED A PRAT AND IN THE SAME SICK MANNER AS­ YOU, I HOPE YOU GET THE SAME (MAY GOD FORGIVE ME)
    I TOO­ WISH SEVE A SPEEDY RECOVERY AND WISH ALL OF HIS FAMILY­ A HAPPY AND HOLY CHRISTMAS.

    From omegaexecutive, on Wed 3 Dec 11:38AM

  9. hopefully now the biggest legend in golf can finally­ enjoy his retirement and not have to worry about more­ operations

    From nbw1967, on Wed 3 Dec 11:07AM

  10. I wish Seve and his family all the best, hard times­ like this bring out the true spirits in people. He was­ known for his true spirit when playing and I'm sure­ this will be another major he will master. God bless­ all.

    From kensinclair1, on Wed 3 Dec 10:36AM

  11. If the thoughts and prayers of people all over the­ world count for anything, then Sevy should get better­ and in the near future. My thoughts are with him and­ especially his family at this time, best wishes.

    From stuartnicol, on Wed 3 Dec 9:40AM

  12. Very serious situation. The body can only take so much,­ I am sorry to hear he had to go under the knife yet­ again. Sometimes I wonder, no matter what religion you­ may be or not be, if there is a fair God anywhere.­ Sevvy, stick with it, the world is loving you and­ wishing you well.

    From not printable, on Wed 3 Dec 9:17AM

  13. Miguel b. You obviously gain some kind of sick pleasure­ from your post. While everybody is traditionally­ wishing Seve good luck you have to be the clever prat­ who wants to impress everyone with his knowledge.­ I'm sure the people who wish Seve well don't­ really care how clever you are, so how can you wish him­ a recovery when you say it's going to be fatal?­ Idiot

    From Graham P, on Wed 3 Dec 8:38AM

  14. get well soon seve

    From ken robson, on Wed 3 Dec 12:08AM

  15. DEAR SEVE,

    THINKING AND PRAYING FOR YOUR RECOVERY­ EVERY DAY, LOVE YOU MAN YOU ARE MY HERO, GOD BLESS YOU.

    From Harry W, on Wed 3 Dec 12:05AM

  16. God be with you Seve. You have provided us with much­ enjoyment over the years and I hope that you are not­ taken from us so early in your life. I only wish I had­ been born with a small proportion of your natural­ talent to play golf.

    From roger.williams20, on Tue 2 Dec 11:15PM

  17. Sorry to hear that Seve has had another operation, I­ wish him well and hope that this one will be more­ successful. But how much more can he take, the body and­ brain can only take so much. Good luck to him. Bobbie­ O'T. Ireland.

    From Lizzy Ingram, on Tue 2 Dec 10:27PM

  18. As much as I like and admire Sevy and as much as I wish­ him a speedy recovery - there isn't going to be one­ - the type of brain cancer he has is unfortunately­ always fatal, especially at his age the current­ operations may buy him enough time to say proper­ goodbyes to and spend some time with his family - we­ all hope at least he has that much left.

    From miguel b, on Tue 2 Dec 8:31PM

  19. Sad to hear that Seve has to undergo yet another op --­ best wishes to you lets hope this will be the start of­ a good recovery back to the best of health and his­ family -- not to mention the golfing world.

    From Eric T, on Tue 2 Dec 8:17PM

  20. A truly charismatic golfer who put colour and verve in­ to the European Golf Tour when it was badly needed. He­ is going through another tough test but if anyone has­ the heart to pull through it is Severiano Ballesteros.­ My thoughts and best wishes for a speedy and full­ recovery go out to him. DJC

    From suttonexhowth, on Tue 2 Dec 8:13PM
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