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Lakers' second round draft pick Ronnie Turiaf has been found to have a heart defect (enlarged aorta) that could eventualy be fatal if not corrected, and he will need surgery. There is a good chance he will never be able to play pro basketball.
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It sounds similar to the surgery that Minnesota Timberwolves (and former Chicago Bulls) player Fred Hoiberg had a couple weeks ago. He was found to have a dilated aortic root and needed it surgically repaired. He is likely to miss the first part of the 2005-2006 season, but there is hope he can return.
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Here is an article that mostly explains what a really great person Turiaf is:
but what I find a bit troubling is that they go off on a wild goose chase trying to link Turiaf's condition to Flo Hyman's (Marfan's Syndrome), and Hank Gathers (arrhythmia due to heart muscle disease), and others. Why they even bring all these examples up is because the reporters just don't bother to do their homework.
Clearly the reports about Turiaf's condition cite that he has unexpectedly been found to have a weakness in the wall of the aorta as it is exiting the heart and that it has expanded to a width of 5.6 cm (apprx 2.2 inches) and it normally should be 2.5 cm. The cause of the weakening is unknown, but the chances of the aorta spontaneously rupturing (a nearly always fatal event) goes up as the wall expands further, and the aorta needs to be repaired now so it doesn't threaten Ronny's life.
As is commonly the case, as the surgeon gets into the procedure, he may also be required to replace the aortic valve (the valve exiting the heart), and if that needs to be done, then almost certainly Ronny would need to be on a lifetime course of strong "blood thinners" that would make playing competetive basketball nearly impossible.
By the way, Fred Hoiberg's situation was a slight bit different. Even tho his aorta also had an aneurysm, it was of a slightly different kind. Hoiberg's aneurysm was an aortic root aneurysm associated with a bicuspid aortic valve. In Hoiberg's case, the structure of the aortic valve was deficient from birth and his valve had to be replaced along with the aorta itself.
Hoiberg's valve abnormality had been known for years, and the aneurysm had been known and followed by doctors for about a year and the decision to operate was just made a couple weeks ago. Turiaf's was just recently discovered and is not known to be associated with an abnormal valve.
Hoiberg also had a form of electrical heart block and needed a pacemaker, and his mechanical valve will need anticoagulants for the rest of his life as the article below shows.
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Turiaf was at a shootaround Monday!
Great to hear.Comment
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Also, they released Vlade.
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That means there's an open roster spot, and immediately the Lakers fill it by signing a free agent, Adam Parada.
He's a 7-foot center from UC Irvine who played some in the development league for the Huntsville Flight.
The Lakers had picked up Vlade to help when Shaq left, but back problems will force Vlade to end his career.Comment
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Re: Lakers' draft pick out
For those of you who'd like a followup on this story,Originally posted by The Enforcer
not only did Ronny Turiaf have major open heart and aorta surgery, he
has made an incredible comeback, and last night got the start for the Lakers.
Turiaf was in there to defend Amare Stoudamire, and he held Stoudamire to just 4 for 16,
with Ronny getting 10 pts.
Nice story.
Sign in front of the Peoria Journal Star
also add "Price Slashed"Comment
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