Former President José “Pepe” Mujica discharged after kidney complications: “I am recovering my bones as best as I can”

Former President of Uruguay Jose “Pepe” Mujica He was discharged this Tuesday after being hospitalized the previous day due to a deterioration in his kidney function. This complication was related to his oncological treatment esophageal cancerThe diagnosis came in May this year, for which he received radiotherapy until mid-June.

According to his family doctor, Raquel PannoneLack of adequate hydration, a result of the after-effects of the treatment, worsened the kidney condition of Mujica, who also suffers from vasculitis.

“She’s fragile,” Pannone said, though he was optimistic about her recovery.

Despite his health condition, the 89-year-old former president attended a political event a few hours after being discharged from the hospital. Broad Front (FA)The main opposition force in Uruguay.

Mujica entered Wheelchair At the party’s headquarters in Montevideo, where he was greeted with applause by those present.

,It’s been a very heavy day today. I’m picking at my bones as best I can, but I have to do it”, he expressed, clearly affected by his physical condition.

Mujica, who was president of Uruguay between 2010 and 2015, took the opportunity to announce the induction of the journalist blanca rodríguez on the FA list for the 2010 general elections 27 October,

Rodríguez, known for her more than 30-year career as host of one of the country’s leading television news programs, will be second on the list of the group led by Mujica as a candidate for the Senate.

The former president stressed that it was an “honor” for Rodriguez to join the party.

Mujica was accompanied by his wife, the former vice president, during the event Lucia TopolanskyThe 79-year-old also has a past as a Tupamara guerrilla and was Uruguay’s vice president between 2017 and 2020.

He was accompanied by Dr. Pannone, who had earlier elaborated on the former President’s health condition in a press conference.

Pannone said that Consequences of radiotherapy Mujica’s ability to eat food has been affected, resulting in inadequate fluid intake and, as a result, a decline in his kidney function.

Since Friday, the former President was being given serum at his home to deal with this. dehydration. Despite the loss of weight and muscle mass, the doctor assured that Mujica is “in no way” malnourished and that the main concern is to stabilize his hydration.

The doctor stressed that studies conducted so far have not found evidence of an esophageal tumor, which strengthens the belief that the cancer has been cured.

“Everything indicated that the development was good,” Pannone said, although he acknowledged that Mujica’s spirits “are not in their best moments.” However, he stressed that the former president remains “very articulate, as always.”

Regarding the impact of this position on his wife, Pannone explained that, although Topolansky is “in good health”, the position is “very tiring” and requires a lot of effort, which has limited her participation in political activity. Despite this, the former vice president remains “very active as always”.

Mujica, who took up arms with the movement in the 60s and 70s The Tupamaros And imprisoned for 13 years during the civic-military dictatorship (1973-1985), he referred to his health in an interview published by the US newspaper last Friday the new York Times,

,They gave me radiology treatment. According to the doctors everything went fine, but I am devastated.’”, the former president remarked. He further added that, although he loves life, he feels he is losing it:

“Life is beautiful. I love life, with all its adventures. And I am missing it because it is time for me to go.”

On June 30, Mujica celebrated his Dolphins’ victory, Yamandu Orsias the FA’s presidential candidate. In addition, on Sunday he sent a recorded message broadcast on social networks, in which he urged his party members to redouble their efforts to return to power in 2025.

(With information from AFP)