Fatialofa ‘making good progress’ after leaving intensive care unit
Worcester Warriors are hoping that lock forward Michael Fatialofa will soon be transferred to Stoke Mandeville Hospital to continue his rehabilitation as he shows “encouraging signs of improvement”.
Warriors announced in a statement yesterday that Fatialofa had been moved from the intensive care unit to the major trauma unit at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London.
It was the first time since the incident, which took place in a Gallagher Premiership match against Saracens at Allianz Park on Jan 4, that the 27-year-old had been out of intensive care.
While he is “making good progress”, his condition remains serious.
The spinal injuries unit at Stoke Mandeville is internationally renowned for its rehabilitation programmes.
Former Leicester prop Matt Hampson and former Saracens academy hopeful Henry Fraser were both treated at the Buckinghamshire site.
After the change of unit, Fatialofa was pictured outside hospital for the first time since the incident.
Worcester team-mate Joe Taufete’e posted a picture on Instagram of himself standing in a courtyard alongside Fatialofa, who was sitting in a wheelchair and smiling.
“With each day I can see the fight in you to get right and always pushing to put smiles on visitors as they come!” Taufete’e said on his Instagram post.
“You are killing the grind and recovery! You are a real inspiration to me! With how strong you been through this and unconditional love you got from the family and friends … I know you’ll come out stronger!”
Since the seemingly innocuous collision with Saracens’ front-row duo Jack Singleton and Richard Barrington, Fatialofa has been diagnosed with a spinal contusion; a serious condition which causes compression on the spine.
On Jan 6, he underwent surgery to relieve the pressure on his spinal cord caused by bruising and swelling.
Wife Tatiana Fatialofa has been providing updates via Instagram since the incident, with yesterday’s the most welcome so far.
“The critical part is over, 19 long, love-filled days in intensive care … the power of love is simply without rival – it is the strongest force in the universe,” she posted.