PENSACOLA, Fla. – Bishop John H. Ricard of Pensacola-Tallahassee remained in serious but stable condition Dec. 28 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola after suffering a stroke Dec. 22.
On Dec. 27 doctors successfully implanted a permanent shunt to remove excess fluid from his brain. It replaced a temporary shunt implanted Dec. 22.
The 69-year-old bishop continues to be alert and able to converse and can move his hands and feet, according to updates on the diocesan Web site, www.ptdiocese.org. He cannot receive visitors or phone calls.
According to a Dec. 27 update on the Web site, the bishop’s new shunt will enable him to begin to walk and become more active as he continues his recovery. The update also noted that Bishop Ricard has expressed deep gratitude for prayers being offered for his return to full health.
His condition was upgraded from critical to serious Dec. 23.
Bishop Ricard, a native of Baton Rouge, La., is chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Subcommittee on the Church in Africa. He was named bishop of the Pensacola-Tallahassee Diocese in 1997 and previously served as an auxiliary bishop in the Baltimore Archdiocese.