Loida Zabala: “I still haven’t diagnosed whether it’s a tumor or an infection”

Even in difficult times, Loida Zabala always exuded optimism. The voice on the other end of the phone was as energetic as ever. Paralympic weightlifter, Earn four diplomas in as many matches as possible (From Beijing in 2008 to Tokyo in 2020) Ramón y Cajal Hospital provides services to Marca, she has been hospitalized since October 28.That day, she was working as a 012 telephone operator when His left arm fell asleep for a few seconds. Immediately afterwards, he was unable to answer calls normally. Unable to speak. When the doctor arrived and showed him some glasses and a watch, he did not know the names of the objects. Just his name and that day.

“At the hospital, they found a mass in the frontal and parietal lobes of my brain. A few days later, they detected nine masses in my brain.

Currently they have to do more tests, such as a bronchoscopy, because it could be metastasis from the lungs. Now, in addition, I have blood clots in my legs, which I have to handle with care due to the condition of my lungs,” he revealed on his social networks a few hours before Marca’s call on Saturday.

“They detected nine masses in my brain.”

Loida Zabala, Paralympic weightlifter

“I had pneumonia some time ago, and recently I had severe bronchitis. On Wednesday, they will conduct lung tests to see the cause of the infection. ” he revealed in a phone call. On Friday, he hopes to have the results.

“What bothers me is that the doctor won’t let me train now”,explain. It’s obvious that it’s made of another material. Sabala is entering the full countdown to the Paris Paralympics.It has a good brand (98kg) and is Ranked fifth in the world (The top eight are confidential), and while she’s in the hospital awaiting diagnosis and treatment, she still has a fifth Paralympic appointment between her eyebrows. “Getting to the Olympics is a priority and I will do everything I can to get there. I don’t have a diagnosis yet. It could be a lung metastasis, but they didn’t rule out it being an infection because I had a fever. I won’t know what that substance is in my brain until next Friday,” he explained.

“I’m ready for any treatment.”

Loida Zabala, Paralympic weightlifter

She did this with a calm demeanor and her usual fighting spirit. This is her symbol, not the wheelchair that accompanies her Transverse myelitis has caused him to lose the use of his legs since he was 11 years old.His strength lies not only in his arms (he can lift 100 kilograms with them despite weighing 49 kilograms), but also in his resilience, perseverance, ability to sacrifice and iron will.. The Spanish weightlifter is used to a thousand battles and faced this one with as much energy as ever. “I’m ready for any treatment,” she said.

tireless warrior

The day he admitted he lost his speech was shocking. She entered the hospital thinking she couldn’t miss work the next day – which was who she was – and the events that unfolded were “a bucket of cold water”, but, as she wrote on her network: “I am strong no matter the prognosis and treatment , I will do my best.”

Why did you decide to make it public today? “Because I want to help people who are going through similar situations”

she said with her characteristic generosity.

From the moment she made her health condition public on social media, the Extremadura woman has received countless messages of love from other athletes and people from all walks of life. Your phone is smoking today. “I feel so grateful,” she admits.

louis last year european champion, also holds a world bronze medal and won 17 consecutive Spanish championships (-50kg). His international best is 98kg for a total of 192kg, which he achieved at this year’s Dubai World Cup.