Vera, who remains under intensive care at the Saturnino Lora hospital in
Santiago de Cuba, has showed slight improvement, although he remains in
very serious condition, according to medical sources who reported him as
“calm, conscious and without alarming neurological signs,” which were said
to be “positive” in the absence of cardio respiratory alterations.

The message from Fidel Castro, personally delivered by the Vice President
of the Council of State, Esteban Lazo, wishes Vera a speedy recovery and
return home.

“I’m very glad that you’re recovering. It was very important for me to see
you and greet you, and see that you are in high spirits,” Vice President
Esteban Lazo told Vera, who, at the same time, sent a message of
congratulations to the leader of the Cuban Revolution.

Norge Luis Vera, unquestionably one of the best Cuban pitchers in the
history of National Baseball Series, won an Olympic gold medal in Athens
(2004) and two silver medals, in Sydney (2000) and Beijing (2008). Some
months ago, he announced his retirement from active baseball after a
controversial decision by local sports authorities who left him out of the
national team that participated in the World Cup and the Pan American
Games. However, he later said that he was willing to join his team of
Santiago de Cuba for the ongoing 2011-2012 season.