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Doctors say Maradona’s family crucial to his recovery

Buenos Aires, Nov 10 (efe-epa).- Diego Maradona is in good health after undergoing surgery for bleeding inside his skull and the plan calls for him to continue recovering in the care of his family, doctors said Tuesday.

“It’s something that we’re still discussing with the family,” the Argentine soccer great’s personal physician, Dr. Leopoldo Luque, told Radio la Red.

The 60-year-old Maradona, who led Argentina to the 1986 World Cup title and shared the FIFA Player of the 20th Century award with Brazilian great, had surgery a week ago for a subdural hematoma.

“The most important thing at this moment, beyond medical supervision, is to have the presence of the family in a permanent way, of the children, who are completely in agreement with what we are proposing,” Carlos Diaz, the psychologist treating Maradona, said outside the Olivos clinic in Buenos Aires.

Maradona was hospitalized on Nov. 2 Monday for anemia, dehydration and depression.

Doctors ordered a battery of tests and one scan revealed the presence of the subdural hematoma.

Luque, a neurologist, said that he also noticed “strange things” in Maradona’s behavior, including confusion.

“He made a commentary or a response to something that he hadn’t been asked, it’s a cognitive disturbance that shouldn’t have been happening,” Luque said.

Besides the bleeding in the skull, doctors determined that Maradona was suffering from alcohol withdrawal.

“But he’s not a big drinker,” Luque said, explaining that Maradona experienced a negative reaction from alcohol because of interaction with the prescription medications he takes for various conditions, including a sleep disorder.

The former coach of the Argentine national team has had a series of health crises over the last two decades, some of them related to his use of cocaine.

Luque said that while Maradona has been drug-free for years, addiction is a problem that requires ongoing treatment.

Maradona is currently coach of Argentine club Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata. In his honor, the SuperLiga scheduled the resumption of play after the pandemic shutdown to coincide with the icon’s 60th birthday on Oct. 30.

But Maradona left the match in obvious distress after a few minutes. EFE

apr/dr

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