Catholic World News News Feature

Mother Teresa Improves But Danger Still Lurks December 02, 1996

CALCUTTA (CWN) - Mother Teresa's health continued to improve on Monday following a week of heart problems that brought the 86-year-old nun to the precipice of death, according to her doctors.

"She is stable and we are very optimistic about her recovery," American Dr. Patricia Aubanel, a member of the elderly nun's medical team, told reporters at Calcutta's B.M. Birla Heart Research Center. Mother Teresa had surgery on Friday to clear two blocked arteries after being admitted to the hospital the previous Friday with heart problems. Doctors had waited a week for the missionary's condition to stabilize following a series of heart attacks while in the hospital. She is also suffering kidney and lung problems, as well as pneumonia. "Mother is still not out of danger and complications still may happen, but doctors this morning are optimistic," a medical bulletin issued by the hospital said. Aubanel said the medical team would now concentrate on the kidney and lung problems, part of Mother Teresa's ongoing battle with chronic lung disease, bronchial pneumonia, and ailing kidneys.

Asked when Mother Teresa might be allowed to return to her Missionaries of Charity religious order, Aubanel said: "It's too early to say when she will be released." Albanian-born Mother Teresa founded the order and has led her sisters since 1948. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her work among Calcutta's poor, and was most recently awarded Albania's top honor for her life's work.

Albanian President Sali Berisha said in a speech celebrating her award on Albania's national day said the nation gave the "Honor of the Nation" award "to the most renowned Albanian of all times, the living saint of our nation, Mother Teresa." He also said, "(It is) a sign of the deep gratitude the Albanian nation nurtures for the Missionary of God, the symbol of love and hope, its honor and pride."

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