Gorres' huge hospital bill still unpaid

Source: By Joaquin Henson (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - A bill of $560,000 covering stricken fighter Z Gorres’ hospital expenses remains unsettled but Dr. Ben Calderon, president of the Philippine Medical Association of Nevada, said yesterday the University Medical Center (UMC) in Las Vegas allowed his release from confinement because there was simply no money to pay.

“It’s not like in some hospitals where a patient isn’t released until he pays the bill,” said Calderon who cared for Gorres in Las Vegas and flew with him to Cebu the other day. “The hospital will incur more costs if it keeps a patient so the county will eventually absorb the cost. However, there is still an obligation to pay the bill but can Z afford it?”

Calderon said Gorres has not claimed the $50,000 insurance provided by Top Rank and the money raised by the Filipino community in Las Vegas was for his family, amounting to about $10,000.

Gorres, 27, collapsed in the ring after it was announced that he had won a decision over Colombia’s Luis Melendez in Las Vegas last Nov. 13. He decked Melendez in the third round and was in total control when a left hook dropped him with a few seconds left in the fight. As Gorres fell, his left leg folded up under him and his head hit the bottom rope, creating a whiplash. Gorres got up to beat the count but lost consciousness as he was about to leave the ring.

Gorres was rushed to the UMC where a team of five doctors led by neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Seiff performed emergency surgery to drain the blood causing compression on the outer layer of the brain after removing a portion of the skull. The portion was stored in a bone bank and placed back on Gorres’ head in another operation last Jan. 12. Two days after the second procedure, Gorres was discharged.

Gorres underwent a month of daily two-hour sessions in Las Vegas under rehabilitation specialist Dr. Maria Gaerlan and physical therapist Ramon Lasao before he was cleared to fly back home. It was Calderon who arranged the free-of-charge therapy.

Gorres and his wife Datches, who was flown to Las Vegas by ALA gym owner Tony Aldeguer, lived in Calderon’s home then transferred to the apartment of another Filipino supporter, Wynn’s massage therapist Richard Legaspi.

“The Filipino community spirit was so overwhelming,” said Calderon, 42, a native of Isabela who earned his medical degree at La Salle Dasmariñas and practiced in Ohio before settling in Las Vegas with wife Sophia and daughter Vanessa. “About 70 percent of the nurses at UMC are Filipinas and they went around passing the hat from station to station for Z. The outpouring of support was incredible as Filipino doctors, nurses and therapists volunteered their services. The entire Filipino community pitched in.”

Calderon said University of Nevada at Las Vegas boxing coach Fred Slaughter has initiated a move to lobby for a proposed Z Gorres Bill to raise fighters’ insurance to $1 Million in the US. The bill is expected to be made into a law early next year and the plan is for Gorres to attend the signing.

Gorres’ manager Michael Aldeguer said the immediate priority is to continue his rehabilitation. A meeting was set last night to discuss where the therapy will be done. The options are the Chong Hua Hospital and Velez General Hospital, both in Cebu City, and the Perpetual Succor Hospital in Mandaue.

Gorres said God didn’t let him down.

“I know God still has plans for me,” said Gorres. “I won’t be able to fight again but I can share my knowledge about boxing with others. I hope to work in Sir ALA’s gym and train boxers. I owe everything to Sir ALA. When I came home, he told me not to worry about my family, that he would take care of me, that my priority should be to get strong.”

Gorres arrived in Cebu last Tuesday and was welcomed by over 200 well-wishers in the airport. He had a heartwarming reunion with his four children – Dheybert, 7, Sheiladhey, 5, Zhey, 3 and Rhodney, eight months old.

“I miss my kids,” said Gorres. “My daughter, Sheiladhey, cried when she saw me, like she understood what happened to me. I asked her why she was crying and she told me it was because I was so thin. I think I lost about 10 pounds. I embraced all my kids. I’m happy to be home.”

Gorres said the memory of his fight against Melendez is blank in his mind. “I don’t remember anything about the fight,” he said. “I know I won. I’ve watched it on tape. But I don’t really remember what happened.”

Gorres’ wife Datches stayed in Las Vegas for over two months. “Dr. Calderon was a big help,” she said. “He spoke with the hospital authorities to get the release. He took us into his home, gave us medicine and arranged for the rehab. Richard was also very helpful. We stayed in his apartment. He brought us to the rehab clinic and picked us up every day. He massaged Z’s legs and arms every day. We never expected this kind of support from the Filipino community.”

Aldeguer said Gorres is like a brother. “Z grew up with us,” said Aldeguer. “He’s like a son to my father. Z will always be with us. He can work in our garment business or in the gym. The important thing is for him to get back to normal.”

Gorres said he still needs a walker and sometimes a wheelchair but vowed to be on his own soon.

“I told Sir ALA I’m sorry I wasn’t able to win a world title but he told me it’s alright because in his eyes, I’m more than a world champion for surviving this test,” said Gorres. “Sir ALA told me not to worry about the future. I’m truly blessed.”

Solar vice president Ralph Roy was at the Manila airport to greet Gorres upon his arrival before the flight to Cebu. “I have a plan to try and put up a Z Gorres Foundation,” said Roy. “I’ll talk to managers and promoters to put up seed money. This will help fighters who get hurt and those who retire with nothing. For Z, the important thing now is for him to be strong enough to be a father to his kids and to provide for them. I think he’ll get there. The US doctors said he had no chance to survive but he’s back.”

Roy said Gorres’ case is an eye-opener. “Z has put the issue of caring for injured and retired fighters under the microscope,” he said. “Michael was telling me he has been getting calls from fighters asking for help since this happened. Maybe, this is Z’s calling – his way to help others.”

Gorres’ purse for the Melendez fight was $13,500.

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