Paraguay striker Salvador Cabanas is being moved out of intensive
care as he continues his remarkable recovery from being shot in the
head in a Mexico City bar last month.
The doctor who has cared for the player since he was shot at
point-blank range on Jan. 25 said Wednesday that Cabanas, who plays
for Mexican club America, would be moved to a private room at
Mexico City's Angeles del Pedregal Hospital.
"His movements are more agile with no problems, and all of
his medicines are being taken by mouth," Dr. Ernesto Martinez said.
"He's eating normally. He has much more strength ... He speaks when
he wants, with whom he wants. He's progressing very
satisfactorily."
Martinez said it was impossible to know the long-term effects
of the shooting. Hours after the attack, surgeons decided against
removing the bullet fragment, saying surgery was too dangerous.
Cabanas is still not permitted to walk amid fears such
activity might increase the pressure around his brain, added
Martinez, who has not ruled out the 29-year-old striker returning
to play football.
Cabanas had been expected to lead Paraguay's strikeforce at
this summer's World Cup in South Africa.
The main suspect in the shooting case, Jose Jorge Balderas,
is still at large. The Mexico City attorney general's office has
said it will ask Interpol, the international police agency, for
help in tracking down Balderas.
