- Title: SPAIN/ GOLF: Seve Ballesteros well-wishers gather outside Madrid hospital
- Date: 3rd November 2008
- Summary: EXTERIOR OF MADRID'S LA PAZ HOSPITAL PANNING DOWN TO WELL-WISHERS OUTSIDE
- Embargoed: 18th November 2008 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVAD8QEXF68NM8304JQNGOR0CBI3
- Story Text: Well-wishers organised a gathering outside Madrid's La Paz hospital at midday on Sunday (November 02) to show their support for the five-time major winner Seve Ballesteros, who remains in intensive care in the Spanish capital after having undergone three operations on a brain tumour.
A news item appeared in national sports daily "Marca" giving the time and date of the gathering as well as the word being spread by mobile text messages, prompting many well-wishers to turn out with messages of support and wishes of a speedy recovery, despite the cold weather.
Among those present was well-known Spanish television presenter Carlos Garcia-Hirschfeld who wanted to give words of encouragement to Seve.
"I am firstly an admirer. I have been an admirer for many years.
And now as a journalist in sport and more exactly right now in golf, the message is of course one of support and hope, because there were a few days where it looked really bad, but now it seems much better," he said.
Others, like Japanese fan, Oka, were collecting written messages to give to the hospital-bound golfer in an effort to return some of the pleasure that Mr. Ballesteros had given to his supporters over the years.
"If we could do something to help Seve he would be very grateful.
He has given us a lot of happiness, the least we can do is to do the same for him, if it will help. That's why we have come," said Oka.
Having organised the meeting for 12 midday, the well-wishers gathered in front of the hospital's main entrance to cheer and clap for Seve Ballesteros' speedy recovery, in a show of solidarity.
The 51-year-old remains in intensive care in Madrid's La Paz hospital after a third operation on a brain tumour a week ago, to reduce swelling and remove more of the tumour.
"The patient is stable and his neurological condition is improving, though he needs to continue in intensive care," the hospital said in a statement on Friday October 31.
Five-time major winner Ballesteros is suffering from an oligoastrocytoma, a tumour that affects two types of brain cell, and spreads diffusely inside the brain cavity. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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