Italian basketball player Achille Polonara is now recovering after waking from a 10-day coma. The 33-year-old forward recently left the hospital and is beginning his journey back to health, bringing relief to his family and fans.
This serious health scare was a complication following a successful bone marrow transplant to treat myeloid leukemia. Despite facing a very low chance of survival, Polonara has pulled through. His focus is now on recovery and his eventual return to basketball.
🙏 A Difficult and Scary Time
The situation became critical when Polonara experienced complications after his transplant. His wife, Erika Bufano, shared that a blood clot formed, preventing oxygen from reaching his brain. At one point, doctors were very concerned, with his wife recalling they were told, “He fainted… If they increase, his chances of survival are slim.” She described the period as a time of constant worry, where all she could do was pray for a “miracle.”
🧠 Waking From the Coma
Polonara himself has little memory of the 10 days he was unconscious, comparing the experience to simply being asleep. His wife described his first moments of consciousness as confusing. He was emotional, singing and crying, and talking about things that hadn’t happened. It even took four days before he asked about his children, highlighting the difficult process of his brain recovering. “I was feeling terrible, thinking about my kids more than anything else,” his wife shared about the ordeal.
💪 The Road to Recovery and Basketball
Now out of danger, Polonara is focusing on the future. He is committed to physical therapy to regain his strength, especially in his right arm which is currently weaker. Despite the long road ahead, he has confirmed his strong desire to return to the basketball court. He plans to join his new team, Banco di Sardegna Sassari, once his recovery allows. “It will take some time. I have to commit to physical therapy,” Polonara said, but affirmed his intention to play again.
