The doctors who cared for Pope Francis during his life-threatening health battle over the past few weeks at one point thought there might be no choice but to let him die.
Professor Sergio Alfieri, the doctor in charge of caring for the pontiff after he was admitted to Gemelli hospital in Rome, told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera about the grim prognosis the pope faced in late February after he suffered a bronchial spasm and inhaled his own vomit.
“We had to choose whether to stop and let him go or force it and try with all the drugs and therapies possible, running the very high risk of damaging other organs. And in the end, we took this path,” Alfieri said.
Alfieri said it was a nurse who told him to exhaust all means to try to save the pope’s life: “Try everything, we won’t give up. That’s what we all thought, too. And no one gave up.”
Francis, 88, spent approximately 38 days in the hospital, battling bronchitis, which turned into a case of pneumonia in both lungs that gave way to further complications.
POPE FRANCIS LEAVES HOSPITAL AFTER FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE IN WEEKS
The Holy See Press Office issued twice-daily health updates to keep the world abreast of his health, at times in surprising detail.
He made his first public appearance post-recovery on March 23 when he appeared on the balcony of Gemelli hospital in a wheelchair, giving a thumbs-up and addressing a crowd gathered to see him.