Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

Injured Filipino boxer Z Gorres was released from the University Medical Center (UMC) in Las Vegas only three weeks ago.

Already, he is walking, joking, and looking forward to March 2, when he would finally be able return to the Philippines to be with his four children.

In addition, he and his wife will also be starting a small business that would give this former world champion contender a livelihood in their hometown of Mandaue City in Cebu .

"Our target (departure) date is March 2nd, Z will be strong enough to travel then," Dr. Benito Calderon, Philippine Medical Association of NV (PMAN) president said.

PMAN, along with the Philippine Nurses Association of NV, organized a fundraising dinner last Jan 30 where they raised some $4,000. These funds will be used for plane fare and special accommodations needed for the trip.

In addition, the two medical groups also raised another $4,000 since starting the fundraising drive for Z "The Dream" Gorres after his first brain surgery last November.

Z suffered a subdural hematoma after beating Colombian Juan Melendez in one of four undercard matches the day before the celebrated Pacquiao-Cotto fight in this city last November. UMC doctors in Las Vegas removed a flap from Z’s skull to relieve the swelling in his brain.

The bone in his head has been reattached, two months later, on January 12, and he was released from the hospital a few days after the second operation.

Medical personnel at UMC, dubbed him a "miracle man" because of the astoundingly quick recuperation he made. Doctors were expecting him to be paralyzed for the rest of his life.

Three other boxers who suffered from the same injury Z had have died in the past, noted Dr. Calderon, who is also Z’s primary care physician.