Cardinal Keeler discharged from hospital

UPDATED
Following his June 25 release from The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Cardinal William H. Keeler is back at his downtown residence and will undergo outpatient rehabilitation at Mercy Medical Center, according to archdiocesan spokesman Sean Caine.

Although the cardinal’s seven-day hospital stay following a June 18 surgery to drain an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid from his brain prevented the 76-year-old archbishop from attending the June 23 ordination of four priests, he was able to send an audio greeting to the men. He was also able to send a message to those receiving papal honors at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, Homeland, June 24.

“The cardinal is feeling fine,” said Bishop W. Francis Malooly, western vicar and vicar general, following the presentation of the papal honors. “He’s recovering quickly.”
Mr. Caine described the cardinal as being “in very good spirits” and said the cardinal has even begun working.

“He saw the four newly-ordained priests and Father Patrick Peach – (who was) ordained last year, but was in Rome for an additional year – to give them their assignments and to personally congratulate them,” Mr. Caine said. The appointments are expected to be made public in the near future.

Cardinal Keeler had been diagnosed with hydrocephalus – fluid on the brain – which may have resulted from head trauma he received in an October, 2006, automobile accident in Italy that claimed the life of his long-time friend, Father Bernard Quinn, a retired priest from the Harrisburg diocese.

He remained hospitalized for seven days – four of which were spent in inpatient rehabilitation, according to Mr. Caine.

Cardinal Keeler is scheduled to have a checkup within the next few weeks so doctors can determine if the tube is draining the appropriate amount of fluid from his brain.
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