Basque pelota blog in english – Dos paredes

David Merino returns to the fronton on Friday after a ten week enforced layoff. The 21 year old Riojan has been suffering from Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare but serious neurological condition of viral origin which effects only one in 100,000 people. He had fallen on his way to train at Adarraga and experienced such weakness in his legs that he could not stand. The syndrome, which causes the body’s immune system to attack the peripheral nervous system, was diagnosed after a battery of tests in Pamplona. He spent six days in the hospital of San Pedro in Logroño followed by a further week of rest before he began his rehabilitation. Quoted in Diario de Navarra, Aspe’s Dr Jose Maria Urrutia stated that Merino had recovered well without complications. It was thought at first the prognosis may be worse but these fears were unfounded, and Urrutia praised Merino’s positivity and resilience.

He has been given the all clear and is physically well, the only change being a weight loss of two kilos, and will return to action tomorrow in Soraluze, partnering Gonzalez against Aritz Lasa and Laskurain. Aspe plan to give him a match each week in the hope that he will be in a position to play in the Pairs Championship which begins on 15^th December.

We wish David all the best for a successful return!

Source: Diario de Navarra

Image from La Rioja