FED:Cautious optimism for Meldrum

AAP General News (Australia)
12-16-2011
FED:Cautious optimism for Meldrum

MELBOURNE, Dec 16 AAP - Molly Meldrum is making "little steps forward" as he fights
for his life after falling while putting up Christmas decorations, his brother says.

The music industry legend remains in a coma in intensive care at The Alfred Hospital
after suffering extensive injuries in the fall at his Melbourne home on Thursday evening.

Brian Meldrum said his brother was still in a fight for his life, but doctors were
tentatively happy with his condition.

"Nothing has changed a lot since last night," Mr Meldrum told reporters outside the
hospital on Friday afternoon.

"He is under sedation and he will remain that way certainly into early next week."

The 65-year-old has a fractured skull and bruising of his brain.

"At the moment there's little steps forward, but there's nothing to say that things
couldn't go backwards, so in that respect he's not out of danger as far as his life goes,"

Mr Meldrum said.

"But at the moment things are progressing along the way they (doctors) want it to go.

It's only minute, but it's going the right way."

The Alfred's director of neurosurgery Jeffrey Rosenfeld said earlier that while Meldrum
had been in a stable condition overnight, he remained in a life-threatening situation.

"We're really concerned for his life, it's a life-and-death matter," Dr Rosenfeld said.

"Here he was perfectly well yesterday and here he is today fighting for his life. We're
fighting that battle with him and for him."

The surgeon said it was too early to predict the chances of a full recovery and the
next 24 hours would be critical.

Meldrum's manager Mark Klemens said he was confident he would recover.

"He's an absolute trouper and whenever he's been down before he gets straight up, so
I would be hopeful and confident that he'll be back looking down the lens saying, 'Do
yourself a favour,'" he said.

"I've looked after Molly for a long time and he's a great mate so I'm totally optimistic.

"He's a person that endears himself to people and he's iconic. He's a very special man."

Music industry figures, including Kylie Minogue and Boy George, actors and fans have
taken to social media with messages of support.

Mr Meldrum said his brother would be blown away by the support he'd received from the public.

"He's very rarely overwhelmed by anything, probably Prince Charles is the only person
that's overwhelmed him," Mr Meldrum said.

"He would be totally and utterly overwhelmed by the amount of support that's come from
all around this country and over the world."

His brother was suffering from a broken shoulder, broken ribs, a punctured lung and
cracks to his vertebrae in addition to his head injuries, he said.

Molly Meldrum fell about three metres down stairs around the spa at his home in suburban
Richmond while putting up decorations on Thursday evening for a Christmas party on Sunday.

Meldrum's name is synonymous with music in Australia. He has hosted the ABC-TV show
Countdown, regularly appeared on the Nine Network variety show Hey Hey It's Saturday and
has interviewed some of the biggest names in the music world.

Famous for his trademark stetson hat, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia
in 1986 for services to the fostering of international relief and to youth.

AAP jcr/mn/mp/wjf

KEYWORD: MELDRUM 4TH UPDATE

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