Returning to life after months in the ICU: “It’s not like in the movies, where you wake up and you’re phenomenal”
Patients and relatives report how psychological sequelae, physical weakness, and cognitive problems can continue months or years after medical discharge.
Juan de Dios del Moral, a 67-year-old retired construction worker, woke up in the Hospital Universitario de Fuenlabrada in Madrid in 2023 after a four-month stay in the ICU. He had undergone surgery to remove a tumor as part of his cancer treatment, but suffered complications, including an infection and pneumonia, which caused his kidneys to fail.
As a result, he was left unable to perform basic tasks such as drinking water, dressing, or walking. Del Moral's body and mind did not respond normally, leaving him feeling disoriented and unsure of his reality.
Written by urgent.news from El Pais's report — not a translation of it. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
