Turiaf to have open-heart surgery Tues 7/26

[missmyzte]

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Ronny Turiaf, the Los Angeles Lakers second-round draft pick last month, will undergo open-heart surgery next week to correct a life-threatening condition, a team spokesman said Saturday.

Surgery was scheduled for Tuesday morning at Stanford University Medical Center, Lakers spokesman John Black said. Turiaf, 22, was expected to be in the hospital for a week.

The procedure will repair an enlarged aortic root, discovered during a physical Turiaf took as a condition of joining the team, Black said.

Previous examinations of Turiaf a couple of years ago and earlier this year at the pre-NBA draft camp turned up an abnormality. In both instances doctors didn't think it was serious and cleared him to play.

But further examinations by the Lakers' own physicians revealed the more serious problem, and other independent experts confirmed it.

The 6-foot-9 power forward averaged 15.9 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.9 blocked shots as a senior at Gonzaga last season. He was the Lakers' second pick behind 17-year-old center Andrew Bynum of St. Joseph High in Metuchen, N.J.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/basketball/nba/07/23/turiaf.surgery.ap/index.html

[alamo50]

LOS ANGELES (AP) Previous examinations of Turiaf a couple of years ago and earlier this year at the pre-NBA draft camp turned up an abnormality. In both instances doctors didn't think it was serious and cleared him to play.

But further examinations by the Lakers' own physicians revealed the more serious problem, and other independent experts confirmed it.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/basketball/nba/07/23/turiaf.surgery.ap/index.html

Very strange.......

[Kori Ellis]

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles Lakers second-round draft pick Ronny Turiaf underwent heart surgery Tuesday and was expected to make a full recovery, the team said.

The former Gonzaga star had surgery to repair an enlarged aortic root and preserve his aortic valve. He's expected to be hospitalized about a week.

The six-hour operation was performed by Dr. Craig Miller at the Stanford University Medical Center.

Turiaf, selected 37th overall in the draft, was diagnosed with an enlarged aortic root during a team physical after the draft. Had the condition not been caught and treated it could have been fatal, team spokesman John Black said.

The 6-foot-10 power forward averaged 15.9 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.9 blocked shots as a senior at Gonzaga last season. He ranks fourth all time at Gonzaga in scoring (1,723 points) and rebounds (859), second in blocks (179) and is the school's career leader in free throws made (643).

[Kori Ellis]

Turiaf's heart surgery called a success; no valve replacement needed

By BUD WITHERS
The Seattle Times

SEATTLE - A six-hour, open-heart surgery on Gonzaga center Ronny Turiaf was pronounced a success on Tuesday, generating hope that the 22-year-old Los Angeles Lakers draftee might play basketball again.

``We're just overwhelmed by the results,'' Gonzaga assistant coach Leon Rice said Tuesday night from Spokane, where he traveled to from the Bay Area in the morning. Turiaf, diagnosed with an enlarged aorta late last week, had the surgery at Stanford University Medical Center.

The hospital declined to issue information on the operation. But both a statement by the Lakers and one on Gonzaga's university Web site indicated the procedure did not include replacement of a heart valve, which, according to reports, would have decreased the chance Turiaf could play competitively again. Even in the best-case scenario, Turiaf wouldn't be ready for the 2005-06 season.

"Turiaf's valve was functioning normally and did not need to be replaced," said the Lakers' release, adding that he is "expected to make a complete and full recovery."

"It almost couldn't have gone better," Rice said.

Turiaf is expected to remain in the hospital about a week, then return to Spokane to begin rehabilitation. Preliminary plans have him likely to stay with Brian Michaelson, a reserve and team captain who graduated with Turiaf in the spring.

Michaelson was in the Bay Area on Monday night with the Gonzaga coaches and a couple of athletic-staff members. Assistant coach Tommy Lloyd stayed at Stanford on Tuesday to greet and help Turiaf's mother Aline, who was due in from Paris in the evening.

Turiaf, a four-year competitor at Gonzaga and the West Coast Conference player of the year in 2005, was a second-round pick of the Lakers and played well in the July summer league. He actually signed a two-year contract, one year guaranteed, but the deal was contingent on him passing a physical.

After close examination, doctors found the heart abnormality. It was deemed a condition that could eventually kill Turiaf if untreated.

The Gonzaga Web site quoted Lloyd as saying he was told by a doctor that the first three months will be critical to Turiaf's rehabilitation.

"At that time, his overall progress will be re-evaluated," Lloyd said.

The Turiaf surgery created a whirlwind schedule for the Gonzaga coaches. July is a prime month for evaluation of recruits, and the program also has one of its popular team camps this week.

Rice said coaches would alternate stopping to be with Turiaf on trips back to California this week.

"We just don't want him to be down there alone," said Rice. "My feeling is, we recruit the kind of kids who understand the importance of this. If we miss a game or two (of high-school camps), so be it."

Rice said the outpouring of support for the popular Turiaf in Spokane has been "phenomenal. That's probably been the most amazing thing to see. We knew everybody loved Ronny. Everybody's just been so touched by it.

"The whole world stopped here in Spokane."

[alamo50]

Now it is a long way to recovery.
It will take Ronny's body up to 6 months to get the chemical stuff out of his system used during the operation.
He should be good to go starting next season.
If he wouldn't be a Faker, I would be one of his biggest fans.

;)

[Kori Ellis]

Turiaf released from hospital; returns to Spokane

Associated Press

SPOKANE, Wash. - Los Angeles Lakers second-round draft pick Ronny Turiaf was released from Stanford Medical Center on Tuesday, one week after heart surgery, and returned to Spokane for rest and rehabilitation.

In a statement issued by Gonzaga University, the former Bulldogs star asked the news media and public to respect his privacy.

"As soon as I return to Spokane, get settled and have my rehabilitation program outlined, I will meet with the media to update you to the best of my ability as to what is ahead for me," he said.

Turiaf, the 37th pick in this summer's NBA draft, had surgery July 26 to repair an enlarged aortic root. Doctors found his aortic valve was functioning properly and did not need replacement.

The 6-foot-10 power forward averaged 15.9 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.9 blocked shots as a Gonzaga senior last season.

[Bruno]

Just a little update :
Turiaf was with TP on a radio show today,
He is at 90% and will practice with Lakers in December.
His first game with Lakers will be in December or January.
So Ronny is back :elephant :elephant :elephant

[Das Texan]

glad to hear that. hope ronny has a long and successful career in the nba against all teams but the spurs.

[samikeyp]

Good for him.

[T Park]

Aesome to hear.

Ronny (Row nee) Turiaf is a hell of a guy, and glad to hear he will be back.


Good luck. The one Laker I can root for :tu