Surgery ‘successful’ on Miami face-attack victim

Law enforcement officials have speculated that Eugene may have been under the
influence of a synthetic stimulant known as bath salts, which the U.S. Drug
Enforcement Administration has linked to side effects ranging from impaired
perception of reality to agitation and delusional behaviour.

When Poppo arrived at the hospital, “you couldn’t really make out his
identity or what his facial features were,” said Dr. Wrood Kassira, a
University of Miami plastic surgeon on the medical team treating him.

Even now, she said, “when he smiles, it’s hard to see who he really is.”

The attack has left Poppo blind in at least one eye and facing the risk of
losing his vision permanently, the doctors said.

His “left eye was essentially destroyed and needed to be removed,”
said Kassira. “We’re hoping that in the future there may be some hope
of some kind of vision but it’s unclear if he’ll recover any of it.”

Poppo also suffered a brain injury in the attack. It did not result in any
permanent damage but suggested the brutal nature of the incident. “It’s
the sort of thing we see in car crashes usually,” Namias said.

Poppo was treated for two puncture wounds in his chest that doctors said could
have been from a bullet but were unable to determine what caused them.

Since his arrival, Poppo has undergone at least three surgeries and is
expected to require more. In one operation, doctors removed skin from his
forehead and scalp area to cover one of his eyes.

Still, Namias said Poppo was coping well with his injuries and had only
briefly brought up the attack in a night-time conversation with nurses.

“He’s really just sort of living in the moment and wants to talk about
routine things,” he said. “He’s very upbeat. He hasn’t said one
thing negative to me.”

Poppo is expected to remain in the hospital for a few more weeks. Where he is
moved after his treatment will depend on his medical needs, Namias said.

A fund set up by the Jackson Memorial Foundation to help Poppo with his
medical costs has raised about $15,000. He is also expected to qualify for
Medicaid and Medicare, hospital officials said.

Source: agencies

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