PORTUGAL: SALVADOR SOBRAL MOVED INTO INTENSIVE CARE WHILE WAITING FOR A SUITABLE DONOR

It's been widely reported the Portuguese Eurovision song contest 2017 winner Salvador Sobral had to put his career on hold and concentrate on his health problems late this summer. Now the news are getting worse: After his initial stay in hospital he was able to go back home, but these past few days he had to be urgently readmitted to the Santa Cruz hospital near Lisbon and is currently in intensive care. It is also said he can only have three visitors a day, and only one person at the time and his condition "very delicate".

His health problems were first evident during the Portuguese national selection, and in between the semifinal and the final he already had another operation and visit to the hospital. After his win he did no promotion whatsoever, and with the special permit from EBU did not attend the first technical rehearsals (instead her sister and writer of his song took his place on stage) and made his first appearance in Kyiv only at the Red Carpet and Welcome Party. The rumours about his condition spread and were also ridiculated by some as not true but as a gimmick to get attention. Nothing was really confirmed by his team about his need for a heart transplant or else either.

After winning Eurovison he hasn't travelled the Europe either, but only had a series of concerts in Portugal, the last ones were cancelled and instead he announced he had to put his career on hold via a Youtube video (September 5) and that he would be giving his last concert on September 8.

Since then the said visit to hospital to get all ready for the transplant and to rest, and now the past few days the seriousness of his condition. He is said to be calm and positive about finding a suitable donor in time, despite the urgency. A compatible donor will have to have the same blood type, weight and height as Sobral aged only 27, as well as a form of genetic compatibility to minimise the possibilities that the transplant could end up being rejected. The most likely donor will be a road traffic accident victim, as it is not common that someone under the age of 50 could (otherwise) be a donor. Successful transplants can see patients return to lead a normal life, with survival rates five years in the region of 75%.

More feelings, less fireworks for Salvador now.

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