After spending Christmas with Pelé, relatives of the former Brazilian star joined in a message of gratitude to the health personnel who offered their services during the holidays and returned to a hopeful phrase that they had already written in other posts days ago: “A one more night with him.”
“We always have a lot to be thankful for. Even spending Christmas in the hospital we are aware of the privilege we have. Seeing our father treated by these extremely caring professionals. Not a moment goes by without us forgetting this privilege,” said Kelly, daughter of the former soccer player on Instagram. And she closed: “Even in sadness, we just have to be grateful. Thank you for being together, thank you for all the love from him, thank you for being here with him now. Merry Christmas. Lots of health, lots of love, lots of joy, lots of laughter and lots of passion, today and always, for all of you. One more night with him.
The hospital has not provided details about Pele’s health since last Wednesday. The last part released by the medical establishment indicated that the 82-year-old legend presented a “progression” of the colon cancer that he suffers and received care for “renal and cardiac dysfunctions” in a common room.
Family parties from the Albert Einstein hospital
In the early hours of Sunday, Kelly shared a photo with her brothers Flavia, Edinho and Celeste, and the current wife of the former soccer player, Márcia Aoki, as well as Sophia and Stephany, Pelé’s granddaughters, during Christmas celebrations. “Almost every. (…) Gratitude, love, togetherness, family. The essence of Christmas,” she wrote.
Days before, the daughters reported that the former Santos player would not return home for the holidays: “Our Christmas at home was canceled (…) It would be better for us to stay here, with all the care that this new family (from the hospital) gives us ”, they indicated through the same social platform.
Pelé was initially admitted for a reassessment of his chemotherapy treatment for colon cancer, detected in September last year, and to treat a respiratory infection derived from a recent Covid infection, according to the information released in recent weeks.
His relatives denied that it was an emergency, but the ex-soccer player’s health worsened over the days.
The health of Edson Arantes do Nascimento, three times world champion with Brazil (1958, 1962 and 1970), keeps this soccer fanatic country awake. The Santos club, where he debuted and was forged, will place a crown over the shield on his shirt next season, according to local media reports.
Likewise, during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he received various tributes and wishes for improvement from some soccer stars. The Brazilian followed the tournament from his hospital room. Even after the elimination of Brazil in the quarterfinals, he dedicated an extensive post to his team. He also supported Argentina.