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Datches Gorres, 25, looks forward to seeing her stricken husband.
But mounting hospital bills and the idea of leaving behind four young children in Mandaue City to be at the bedside of injured boxer Z 'The Dream' Gorres, in a Nevada hospital are a heavy burden on the young woman's shoulders.
?It's not easy. I know I have to be brave,? said Datches in Cebuano when she visited the Cebu Daily News office Friday. She said she wanted to thank people, through the paper, for the outpouring of support and prayers after news broke of Z Gorres collapsing after winning his Nov. 14 fight against Luis Melendez of Colombia. The Cebu boxer was rushed to emergency surgery to remove a blood clot in his brain.
Many have phoned her, including Malacañang representatives, pledging their help, even as ALA Boxing Gym managers continue to closely monitor the boxer's condition in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the University Medical Center in Nevada.
But one call hasn't been received.
Philippine boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, relishing a seventh title win and the country's adoration, owns the company that promoted Gorres' fight in Las Vegas, Top Rank and MP Promoitions.
Asked if Pacquiao was able to visit her husband at the hospital or send words of encouragement, the Mandaue boxer's wife said no.
?I heard that Pacquiao was going to extend assistance but I haven't received any word from him or his representative yet,? said Datches.
The homemaker didn't add any request for help, though, choosing instead to focus on what's immediately up ahead. She has to get a visa to travel to the US to be her husband's caregiver for an indefinite period of time.
The couple live in barangay Ibabao, Mandaue City with their four children, aged five months to seven years old.
Datches, a full-time mother, said she was told that while Z is confined in the hospital, insurance is covering his medical expenses. But once he is discharged, costs for other needs like rehabilitation and a period of recovery, remain unclear.
It will be her first time to travel abroad.
On Monday, she is set to go to the Department of Foreign Affairs to get a passport. Antonio Aldeguer of ALA Promotions said the company would shoulder her travel expenses. His son Michael, ALA Promotions president, is in the hospital monitoring the boxer's condition at the private hospital.
Gorres has regained consciousness and is no longer in critical condition. Doctors said he has a good chance to live a ?functional life?, not necessarily a normal one and would need rehabilitation therapy.
His managers in Cebu said a serious head injury like that means the 27-year-old bantamweight fighter can no longer continue a career as a professional boxer.
?I didn't receive advice from my son (Michael) if Pacquiao visited Z at the hospital,? said Antonio L. Aldeguer, when asked about the national champion.
?What can we do if he didn't visit Z? It's really up to him (Pacquiao),? said Antonio. ?I don't want to sow intrigues. He has his own priorities.?
Antonio said Z is under contract with Top Rank Promotions of Bob Arum and Pacquiao's MP Promotions. Arum is Pacquiao's promoter.
Z's fight was held a day before Pacquiao's fight against Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand Nevada in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao won the fight by technical knockout (TKO) in the 12th round, making him the only boxer to win seven world titles in seven different weight categories. Pacquiao arrived in the country last Friday to a hero's welcome.
Cebu boxing promoter Rex 'Wakee' Salud said he visited Z Gorres a day after Pacquiao's fight against Cotto. Salud was with Pacquiao's childhood friend and trainer Buboy Fernandez.
?I don't know what's the reason Manny failed to visit Z. What I know is he was very busy after his fight,? said Salud, a close friend of Pacquiao.
After his 12th title win over Miguel Cotto, Pacquiao and his show band held a concert at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, the same hotel where Gorres had fought his bout and collapsed. Pacquiao sang eight songs during the mini-concert.
The Mandaue City City Council passed a resolution approving P100,000 cash assistance to Gorres. However, his wife said she hasn't received the amount yet.
The Cebu Provincial Board also passed a resolution for financial aid to the boxer but no figure was specified. The source would be discretionary funds of the governor or vice governor. Sanchez./EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CALVIN D. CORDOVA
