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A wheelchair-bound but thankful Filipino boxer Zeta Celestino Oliveros “Z" Gorres arrived home before dawn Tuesday, three months after suffering a traumatic brain injury as he fought Luis Melendez in Las Vegas in November last year.
Gorres, who lost weight and had slight difficulty in his speech, thanked fellow Filipinos for their prayers for his quick recovery.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa lahat ng Pilipino na nagdarasal para sa akin, thank you (I thank all Filipinos who prayed for me. Thank you)," he said in an interview on dwIZ radio.
Amid his fading dream as a boxer, he said he will not stop his children from taking up boxing if they want, even as he voiced regrets he could not realize his dream of becoming a world champion.
“Depende sa anak ko kung kursunada, wala tayong magawa kung gusto talaga nila (It depends on my children. If they want to take up boxing, I can do nothing to stop them)," he said when asked if he will stop his children from taking up boxing.
The dwIZ report said Gorres will be brought to Cebu shortly after his arrival, to continue his rehabilitation.
Gorres’ wife Duchess said that in the first weeks after her husband was hurt, they communicated through writing.
“Laki talaga ng pasasalamat namin sa Diyos at sa lahat ng mga taong nag-pray para kay Z, malaki ang pasasalamat namin sa kanila kasi tinulungan kami nila na marinig ang panalangin namin na ipahiram uli sa amin si Z kaya maraming salamat po (We thank God and Filipinos who prayed for Z. God heard our prayers to have Z stay with us)," she said.
Despite his condition, Gorres struck a pose for photographers upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Aiport Terminal 2 past 5 a.m., following a Philippine Airlines PR-107 flight from Las Vegas.
US-based Filipino doctor Benito Calderon said Gorres’ progress was amazing, and that while he may no longer be able to fight, he is likely to walk again.
Calderon said Gorres, who was paralyzed in the left side of the body and had to be carried since his injury, had been able to move his hands and knees, and walk with the help of a walker.
“His improvement was so fast, we did not expect it," Calderon said.
“Malamang di na siya makakalaban. But ang question will he lead a normal life? I think he wants to be able to lead (a normal life), he can still walk. With the showing yung improvement ng lakas niya I think he can walk (He is not likely to fight again. But the question is, will he lead a normal life? He can still walk. And with the improvement he made, I think he can walk)," he added.
Pacquiao to help shoulder rehab efforts
Filipino boxing icon Emmanuel “Manny" Pacquiao will help shoulder the rehabilitation expenses of Gorres.
According to Gorres wife, Pacquiao approached her husband while they were watching the “Pinoy Power 3" card in Las Vegas, and told him to get well soon.
“Z, pagaling ka, huwag kang mag-alala, tutulungan ka namin (Z, get well. Don’t worry, we’ll help you)," she recalled Pacquiao telling her husband.
On the other hand, Calderon said Nevada taxpayers will likely shoulder the bulk of Gorres’ $550,000 (P25.473 million) hospital fees, and are pushing for a law that will increase insurance coverage for fighters.
At present, Calderon said fighters can only avail of up to $50,000
(P2.315 million) in insurance.
Surgery
Gorres underwent brain surgery after a life-threatening subdural hematoma (traumatic brain injury) he suffered from a fight last November in Las Vegas.
The convalescing Gorres made his first public appearance at the Pinoy Power card last Saturday at the Las Vegas Hilton (Sunday in Manila).
He watched compatriots Nonito Donaire, Jr., Bernabe Concepcion and Mark Jason Melligen beat their respective opponents, and Ciso Morales and Gerry Peñalosa bow to their rivals.
Gorres got hit by a left cross from Melendez in the final round of that nightmarish fight, managed to get up for his win. However, he fell unconscious before leaving the ring.
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