<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">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.</div> Sports Illustrated Get well soon, Ronny.
My condolences to him, his friends, and entire family. I hope he can step on the court again someday. Good luck, Ronny.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The early prognosis for basketball standout Ronny Turiaf appears promising. After more than six hours in open-heart surgery today, doctors at Stanford University Medical Center were able to repair an enlarged aortic root in Turiaf?s heart without having to replace the valve, a hospital official said. ?That?s terrific news,? said Gonzaga University coach Mark Few. ?It?s as good as we could have hoped for.? Although it was too early to predict what kind of recovery the former Gonzaga star could expect, a valve replacement likely would have ended Turiaf?s chances of playing in the NBA. Los Angeles Lakers officials, who chose Turiaf in the second round of this year?s NBA draft, had warned that they wouldn?t let Turiaf play for them if his heart valve had to be replaced. The defect was detected during a physical required by the Lakers as part of his pro contract. The Lakers agreed to pay for the surgery regardless of the outcome.</div> http://www.spokesmanreview.com/breaking/st...te=200572614378 So far so good.
