Post date: Jan 05, 2014 12:10:40 PM
Israel's former PM Ariel Sharon's health condition slightly stabilises, but doctor says "not optimistic".
RAMAT GAN, ISRAEL (JANUARY 5, 2014) (REUTERS) - Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, in a coma since a 2006 stroke, is clinging to life after his condition took a turn for the worse last week, the head of the hospital treating him said on Sunday (January 5).
Sharon is fighting like a "true lion", Zeev Rotstein, told reporters, but made clear he was not optimistic."During the last 48 hours since we last updated the world about his condition, there has been some stabilisation of part of the vital signs of Ariel Sharon like the heart rate and the blood pressure. Unfortunately this is not the case with the other organs of Ariel Sharon which continue to show slow deterioration in their functioning," Rotstein said.
"Arik Sharon which is in English 'a lion' is fighting like a lion for his life and we appreciate it and we wonder to look and to see what a good fight he is giving. I'm afraid that he is not going to change the prognosis, personally that's what I think, but with his children next to him which are holding his hands continuously all this time, we will continue treating him until the very bad end or if he will be able to recover this crisis. Personally, I updated in Hebrew, that I'm not such an optimistic looking at the whole picture," he added.
The 85-year-old's condition sharply deteriorated last week, with doctors reporting a life-threatening collapse of vital organs.
One of Israel's most famous generals, Sharon left his mark on the region through military invasion, Jewish settlement building on captured land and a shock, unilateral decision to pull Israeli troops and settlers out of the Gaza Strip in 2005.