Continued Prayers for Cardinal George

Cardinal out of bed after surgeries

By Joseph Ryan and Stacy St. Clair
Daily Herald Staff Writers
Posted Saturday, July 29, 2006

Cardinal Francis George was stable and out of bed this morning, two days after his bladder and prostate were removed to fend off cancer and one day after a midnight scare operation to stop internal bleeding.

The Chicago Catholic Archdiocese reported this afternoon George has stable vital signs and blood counts, with no indication of further internal bleeding.

The 69-year-old, who shepherds 2.4 million Catholics in Cook and Lake counties, plans to be out of bed at least one more time by the end of the day, according to the archdiocese.

“The cardinal expresses his gratitude for all the prayers that have been offered for him and appreciates continuing prayers on his behalf,” the release said.

George, who has been diagnosed with bladder cancer, had his bladder, prostate, several lymph nodes and part of his right ureter removed Thursday at Loyola Medical Center in Maywood. His doctors initially ruled the surgery a success, but cautioned they would not know the extent of his cancer until test results come back next week.

(Daily Herald file photo)

Shortly after midnight on Friday, George was rushed into surgery - his second operation in less than 12 hours - shortly after midnight Friday to stop internal hemorrhaging. Doctors believe the bleeding was caused by a small cut to an artery branch during his radical cystectomy Thursday.

The setback is not expected to derail the cardinal’s recovery.

“It’s not uncommon," said Dr. Myles Sheehan, a priest and George's personal physician. “But it is a complication. He tolerated the operation well.”

Around 7:30 p.m. Thursday, George’s blood pressure dropped after receiving pain medication, Sheehan said. He was given fluids and another blood infusion, but his blood pressure and blood count continued to fall.

Sheehan gave the cardinal, who was awake and lucid throughout the ordeal, a blessing before the surgery. George offered a loud “amen” when he finished, Sheehan said.

The cardinal also shared an inside joke with Sheehan as he headed toward the operating room, the doctor said.

It took the operating team about two hours to repair the damaged blood vessel in the cardinal’s pelvic region, Sheehan said.

After the surgery George was awake Friday morning and prayed the rosary with some Loyola workers and archdiocese staff. He also inquired about Chicago First Lady Maggie Daley, who had breast cancer surgery on Thursday.

“He’s real sharp and in good spirits,” archdiocese spokeswoman Colleen Dolan said. “His sense of humor is right there.”

George also asked about the prayer vigils held on his behalf throughout the Chicago area this week. Dolan said he was touched by the faithful’s response and had read many of the get-well messages left for him.

“I don’t think there’s anyone in the city of Chicago who believes more firmly in the power of prayer than the cardinal,” Dolan said.

George will stay in the hospital at least a week, doctors said. He will remain in the intensive care unit over the weekend and should be cleared to eat in the next three to four days.

Sheehan said he doesn’t want the cardinal to return to pastoral duties before Labor Day. It remains unseen, however, if George will follow the doctor’s orders.

“What I want and what the cardinal will do could be two totally different things,” Sheehan said. “The cardinal does not put up with lying around. He’s going to get up and he’s going to want to move around.”

An active lifestyle would serve George - whose legs were permanently damaged during a teenage bout with polio - well during his recuperation, Sheehan said. It’s important for the cardinal to aggressively approach his recovery to prevent the loss of additional muscle mass in his legs.

“It’s really important that we make sure he retains his muscle mass... so he can maintain his active schedule,” Sheehan said.