Ballesteros surgery 'a success'

Eurosport - Sat, 25 Oct 14:46:00 2008

Doctors have successfully completed a third brain operation on Seve Ballesteros to reduce swelling from a serious brain tumour.

Severiano Ballesteros - 0

"The patient Mr. Severiano Ballesteros has undergone a new surgery that has ended at 5:00pm today Friday and no complications occurred," the La Paz hospital said in a statement.

The operation, which started at 10:30 am "achieved the targets originally planned and has eliminated the oedema and the remnants of the tumor."

The hospital on Thursday said the surgery was aimed at treating a brain oedema, which is swelling caused by a buildup of fluid, and an "intercerebral haematoma", or accumulation of blood in the brain.

Surgeons also hope to "remove the remains of the tumour," the statement said.

Crown Prince Felipe, heir to the Spanish throne, expressed his support for the 51-year-old at a televised awards ceremony in the northern city of Oviedo.

"Today we remember Seve Ballesteros with special affection and concern who, as he himself has said, is playing the match of his life at the moment. For him, from here, a hug from all of us," he said.

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

He underwent surgery on October 14 to remove the brain tumour. Two days later, he underwent a second operation to ease a build-up of fluid in the brain.

The hospital said Thursday the tumour has been classified as an "oligoastrocytoma (which affects...cells that cover and protect the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord). It is located in an area that requires a very thorough approach of great complexity."

Seen as one of golf's all-time greats, Ballesteros lifted five Majors.

He won The Open in 1979, 1984 and 1988 and became the first European to win the Masters in 1980, an achievement he repeated in 1983.

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

Back problems though started to trouble him in the late 1990s and his form and confidence gradually ebbed away. On July 16, 2007, he announced his retirement, although having turned 50 he was eligible for the Champions Tour and European Seniors Tour.

George O'Grady, chief executive of The European Tour, said the whole sporting world was thinking of Ballesteros.

"Not only I and everyone at The European Tour but also everyone in the world of golf is supporting Seve in his battle," said O'Grady.

"I cannot start to say just how many people have sent their support to him through the Tour. There is not a telephone call or a meeting that starts without the other party asking for detail's of Seve's condition.

"We and everyone in the world of sport wishes him the quickest and fullest recovery."

AFP

Comment 120 - 139 of 139

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  1. Seve! You are in hearts and minds around the world. The very best of luck.

    From Caradoc, on Sun 26 Oct 10:10PM

  2. Up to tour knees in rough, surrounded by trees, 180 to clear the water. If anyone can... Seve can. You need all that now. Get well

    From El horno, on Sat 25 Oct 8:42PM

  3. Seve you are off the tee and on the fairway - now hit the green and made the birdie as only you can - God speed your recovery.

    Russ

    From ulrich.w.ralph@..., on Sat 25 Oct 7:14PM

  4. seve will win this fight, his biggest major ever. have a speedy recovery, seve from stevie

    From sherlie.sinclair@..., on Sat 25 Oct 4:47PM

  5. Dear Seve God will be with you now and in your recovery days. We are all praying for you. Seve,you have been our hero for years.
    God Bless you.

    From beatriz.charlton@..., on Sat 25 Oct 2:43PM

  6. My friends son (13) is dying at the moment from an inoperable brain tumour and watching him fade away I can assure you is anything but amusing. I wish Seve all the luck in the world that he makes a speedy recovery and that he lives to enjoy his life and family.

    From MICHAEL, on Sat 25 Oct 2:26PM

  7. Everyone is praying for you Seve. You are the man.

    From john n, on Sat 25 Oct 12:35PM

  8. We should all ignore comments like those that these scumbags have written, they are not worth all the agro, We are just playing into their tiny little minds by replying to them, So please every body who is decent ignore these morons. Just keep sending your messages and prayers for Seve, who knows all our prayers together might work a miracle. Bobbie O'T from Ireland.

    From Lizzy Ingram, on Sat 25 Oct 11:31AM

  9. i.masterson i completly agree, all these idiots leaving tributes and he will back on the driving range next week.

    From pond.simba@..., on Sat 25 Oct 11:08AM

  10. I.MASTERSONSTEIN YOU ARE ALWAYS RIGHT....

    From dorin c, on Sat 25 Oct 10:23AM

  11. To you l.masterson You are sick to make such comment.

    From Victoria, on Sat 25 Oct 9:39AM

  12. hi seve good luck mate the best golfer i have seen and the best competitor your gonna be okay much love

    From kate.samson, on Sat 25 Oct 8:59AM

  13. A sad day for golf but an even sadder day for his family, rarely cureable this condition, but here's hoping,a great man.

    From Gerry, on Sat 25 Oct 8:58AM

  14. if anybody can beat this its seve. hope you win this one seve. best wishes.

    From NatalieW, on Sat 25 Oct 8:58AM

  15. Seve, you always had time for people. I will never forget Royal Lytham and St Annes in 1979. It was the final round and you were under pressure after carding a 75 in round 3 but you still took time to sign an autograph for my son on the way to the first tee. Leukemia took my son shortly after that but I know that what you did made a difference to us; eveb to this day. You are a real gentleman and I pray that I see you swinging your clubs again very soon.

    From GKL, on Sat 25 Oct 8:13AM

  16. LOOKS LIKE ALL THE BRAIN DONORS ARE ON HERE - GOD PLEASE HELP US AND KEEP SEVE SAFE WE ASK YOU IN JESUS'S NAME PRAISE GOD

    From Karen D, on Sat 25 Oct 7:46AM

  17. I didn't realise what an influential guy seve was until the unfortunate happened.

    From nicholasbnjmn, on Sat 25 Oct 12:28AM

  18. I'm not a golf fan either, but - have been fighting a similar thing with my wife for some time, Keep up the fight - and have hope for the future. All the best Dee

    From Big Thinker, on Fri 24 Oct 11:46PM

  19. I masterson you are the biggest @#$% in the world and should be ashamed of yourself. Seve has been and still is an inspiration to a lot of people throughout the world. It is because of him that the Ryder Cup what it is today. A competition where Europe always has a chance of winning. It is now one of the worlds greatest sporting events.

    From hooligan1953, on Fri 24 Oct 11:45PM

  20. Not a golfing fan Seve, but all the very best.

    From peter s, on Fri 24 Oct 11:31PM
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