Castro says he's getting better after several operations
By ANITA SNOW
Associated Press Writer
HAVANA --
Fidel Castro's recovery from intestinal surgery 10 months ago was
delayed because the first of several operations he had went badly, the
communist leader said in a statement that gave the most detailed account
of his health since August.
Castro, 80, said in the Wednesday statement that he is now eating solid
food and improving after "many months" of intravenous feeding. It was
the most information released about Castro's condition since his Aug. 13
birthday, when he asked Cubans to be optimistic but not rule out
possible "adverse news."
"It was not just one operation, but various," Castro wrote in the
statement that the government sent to international media by e-mail.
"Initially it was not successful and that had a bearing on my prolonged
recuperation."
Expected to be published in state newspapers and read on radio and
television broadcasts on Thursday, the statement did not say when Castro
might appear in public again or resume Cuba's presidency.
"Today I receive orally everything my recuperation requires," the
convalescing leader wrote.
Castro stunned Cuba and the world on July 31 when he was announced he
had undergone intestinal surgery for intestinal bleeding and was
temporarily ceding power to his 75-year-old brother Raul, the defense
minister.
He has not been seen in public since and his condition and exact ailment
have been state secrets, though top officials have insisted he is
recuperating steadily. He is widely believed to suffer from diverticular
disease, a condition that forms sacs in the intestine that can become
inflamed and bleed.
A January story in the Spanish newspaper El Pais described Castro as
being in "very grave" condition after at least three failed operations
for diverticular disease. The Cuban government denied that report.
"I tell everyone simply that I am getting better and maintain a stable
weight of about 80 kilograms (176 pounds)," Castro said Wednesday,
adding that the greatest risks to him now are age and the effects of not
taking proper care of his health over the years.
As he recovers in an undisclosed location, Castro has been seen wearing
a track suit in photographs and videos released occasionally by state
media. He looked gaunt in the earlier images, but appeared more robust
in more recent pictures.
"I don't have time now for films and photos that require me to
constantly cut my hair, beard and mustache, and get spruced up every
day," he said, evidently referring to the preparation required for some
of the official images.
Life on the island has changed little since Castro stepped aside, and
many Cubans no longer worry that their "maximum leader" is at death's door.
His comments on his health came in the second half of a statement about
food production. It was the 11th written communique signed by Castro in
recent weeks, most of them lashing out at U.S.-backed plans to use food
crops to produce biofuels.
"For now, I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing, reflecting and
writing about questions that I judge of certain importance and
transcendence," the latest one said. "I have a lot more material to go."
Loyalists were sorely disappointed on May 1 when Castro did not make his
traditional appearance at Cuba's annual workers parade.
Two weeks after he first fell ill, Cubans received a sober greeting from
Castro saying he faced a long recovery from surgery.
"To affirm that the recovery period will take a short time and that
there is no risk would be absolutely incorrect," that statement said.
In an apparent reference to those earlier words, Castro said in
Wednesday's statement that "my compatriots don't like having me explain
on more than one occasion that the recovery is not free of risks."
No comments:
Post a Comment