The news tonight is that Andy Palacio's condition has worsened. At this hour the Garifuna music icon is at the Universal Hospital. He has been prepared for departure and should be flying out via air ambulance in a very short time. He is expected to fly to the University of Chicago Medical Center where he will be treated at the Neurology Department. He is being accompanied by his cousin and National Garifuna Council President Mike Polonio. A release from his recording label, Stonetree Records describes his condition as critical. This morning his doctor, Neurosurgeon Joel Cervantez spoke to Keith Swift about what's wrong with one of Belize's most loved entertainers.
Dr. Joel Cervantes, Neurosurgeon
"He has a neurological condition that is presently under study. Apparently this past Saturday he started feeling a bit bad in the afternoon. And a condition that started off initially with some dizziness and he went to having difficulty to walk and he finally consulted sometime in this week I think it was Tuesday with another physician in Belmopan and due to the severity of what they were seeing, they decided to get some additional expertise."
Keith Swift,
What is his prognosis?
Dr. Joel Cervantes,
"Well what I can tell you at this point is that we don't have a very definitive diagnosis at this time. We have suspicions and I wouldn't want to voice what exactly we are suspecting at this point and it is too soon to talk about prognosis but I think we have caught it on time. We have started what we think is the pertinent treatment and of course at this point he is going through extra tests to try to fully determine what course of action we should
continue taking and where we go forth from here.
I think Mr. Andy Palacio is a remarkable person, personally I respect and admire him a lot. We're giving all we have to try to improve his condition and not let him have any damage. And I think that basically because I am a man who believes in prayers, I think we should all pray for his well being and have trust that the medical attention that he is going to get is going to be the best."
Keith Swift,
What is he able and unable to do right now?
Dr. Joel Cervantes,
"He is in a hospital setting as such and he is stable at that this point. Yes he can communicate with us and the message he has given basically to all the people who support and love him is that he is fighting, he is coming along, and he is going to get out of this problem."
We will have an update on his condition from Chicago tomorrow. Andy Palacio just came off the most successful year any Belizean musician has ever had riding the success of his breakout album Watina.
