After more than two weeks hospitalized in the Catholic Hospital, the Archbishop of Santa Cruz (Bolivia), Mons. René Leigue Cesarí, was discharged from the hospital this Monday.
This was reported at a press conference by Eng. Víctor Hugo Valda, Director of the Hospital and Episcopal Health Delegate of the Archdiocese of Santa Cruz.
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Accompanying Bishop Leigue Cesari were the Archbishop Emeritus of Santa Cruz, Bishop Sergio Gualberti; the Auxiliary Bishop, Mons. Estanislao Dowlaszewicz; the medical director of the Hospital, Dr. Dorian Jiménez; and its administrator, Lic. Leonardo Sevilla. Connected from the United States, one of the doctors from the interdisciplinary team who worked on the treatment was present.
“We are here with joy, to celebrate a great day, it is the day of Mons. René’s hospital discharge, completely recovered from his condition. They were extremely difficult days, of quick and accurate actions, highly professional and scientific, with a lot of prayer, hope and flooded with love,” he expressed, while thanking God, who “was illuminating every decision we made, and he was also directly acting in Mons. René, his son.”
The director thanked the doctors and nurses, the bishops for their support and trust, and all those who prayed and accompanied the prelate’s recovery.
The days of Bishop Leigue at the Catholic Hospital
Mons. Leigue Cesari was admitted to the Catholic Hospital on August 23 due to acute appendicitis with localized peritonitis, for which he underwent emergency surgery. His condition was affected days later by a lung condition that required treatment in the intensive care unit, and then by cardiac decompensation.
On August 30, after 48 hours of extubation, Dr. Jiménez stated, “in the afternoon, God surprised us with a miraculous awakening, recovering his neurological faculties, beginning to spontaneously communicate his concerns, for the happiness of the entire multidisciplinary team.”
On September 2, the archbishop went to intermediate care, and a day later, he overcame the critical phase of his illness, the medical director detailed. Since then his recovery has been successful.
The prelate will continue with treatment at home until medical discharge.
The medical team, “hero” of history
Bishop Leigue Cesari expressed his gratitude “to God for this important moment, and for life” and to the entire medical team. “Grateful for you, because you have really done hard work.” He was also grateful “to all the people who have prayed for my health.”
The prelate clarified that he is returning home but he still has to continue recovering fully because what he went through in these weeks “has been serious” and “a fairly serious struggle.”
“If there is someone who has to be a hero here, it would be the doctors,” he highlighted.
At the end of the press conference, a ballet performed dances from Bolivia as a sign of joy at the news of the discharge of the archbishop, who enjoyed the show wearing a typical hat.
Juliet Villar
I am a journalist, with a degree in communication from the National University of La Matanza in Argentina. I have work experience in non-governmental organizations. Since 2016 I have been dedicated to Catholic journalism, first at the Argentine Catholic Information Agency (AICA) and, since 2022, as ACI Prensa correspondent for Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Bolivia.