News / National
Bridgette Mugabe undergoes surgery
14 Nov 2013 at 04:42hrs | Views
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe's only surviving sibling, Bridgette, who was admitted at Parirenyatwa Hospital in 2010, recently underwent a minor surgical procedure to "stabilise her breathing problems".
Bridgette has been on life support system at a Harare hospital for the past 3 years.
She collapsed at the burial of her elder sister Sabina on August 10, 2010, and was admitted at Parirenyatwa Hospital where she has been since.
A close member of the Mugabe family who declined to be named yesterday said the procedure was successful.
"It was a minor procedure," the source said.
"It was to stabilise her breathing because she was having difficulty in breathing. But talk to her relatives like Leo Mugabe to give you a clearer picture."
However, Leo said he was unable to comment over Bridgette's health status as he was travelling outside the country.
Mugabe first broke the news of his sister's deteriorating health two weeks ago while addressing mourners at the burial of former Mashonaland West governor Nelson Samkange.
Mugabe then said he had consented to her doctors' request to perform the operation on her.
Her case is similar to that of Ariel Sharon (84), who led Israel from 2001 until suffering a stroke in 2006.
He is still connected to a respirator.
The former Israel Prime Minister recently showed brain activity prompting his doctors to suggest that he might wake up from his coma.
According to health experts a coma is a state of unconsciousness and the person cannot be awoken as they lack the normal sleep-wake cycle.
A coma patient may appear awake but they are unable to consciously speak, hear or move and injury to neurological components contributes to a comatose state.
A person in a coma can retain basic life support functions, such as breathing and circulation.
It is possible that people can recover fully, whereas some may require lifelong physical and occupational therapy and others may only recover basic functions.
Bridgette has been on life support system at a Harare hospital for the past 3 years.
She collapsed at the burial of her elder sister Sabina on August 10, 2010, and was admitted at Parirenyatwa Hospital where she has been since.
A close member of the Mugabe family who declined to be named yesterday said the procedure was successful.
"It was a minor procedure," the source said.
"It was to stabilise her breathing because she was having difficulty in breathing. But talk to her relatives like Leo Mugabe to give you a clearer picture."
However, Leo said he was unable to comment over Bridgette's health status as he was travelling outside the country.
Mugabe first broke the news of his sister's deteriorating health two weeks ago while addressing mourners at the burial of former Mashonaland West governor Nelson Samkange.
Mugabe then said he had consented to her doctors' request to perform the operation on her.
Her case is similar to that of Ariel Sharon (84), who led Israel from 2001 until suffering a stroke in 2006.
He is still connected to a respirator.
The former Israel Prime Minister recently showed brain activity prompting his doctors to suggest that he might wake up from his coma.
According to health experts a coma is a state of unconsciousness and the person cannot be awoken as they lack the normal sleep-wake cycle.
A coma patient may appear awake but they are unable to consciously speak, hear or move and injury to neurological components contributes to a comatose state.
A person in a coma can retain basic life support functions, such as breathing and circulation.
It is possible that people can recover fully, whereas some may require lifelong physical and occupational therapy and others may only recover basic functions.
Source - newsday
