Emilio’s Update
Emilio opens eyes, moves limbs
Doctors don’t know how aware star is of his surroundings
By JUAN A. LOZANO
Associated Press
 
Navaira still is listed in critical condition, doctors say.
 HOUSTON - Tejano music star Emilio Navaira is showing signs of improvement, including opening his eyes and moving his limbs, days after being severely injured when his tour bus crashed, his neurosurgeon said Thursday.
Navaira, who had been in a coma since the Sunday accident, slowly is regaining consciousness. He moved his arms and legs Wednesday evening, said Dr. Alex Valadka, with Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center.
“The fact he has made so much progress already is a very encouraging sign,” Valadka said. “But whether that trend will continue is impossible to say. Hopefully he will be getting better and better.”
While Navaira has opened his eyes, doctors can’t tell how aware the singer is of those around him, Valadka said. Navaira still is using a breathing tube and can’t speak.
Doctors cautioned that Navaira remains in critical condition.
“It’s still impossible to predict how well he will recover and how long it will take,” said Valadka, director of neurotrauma services at the hospital’s Mischer Neuroscience Institute.
Recovery from the type of neurological injuries Navaira has suffered often takes months or years, he said.
The 45-year-old singer was behind the wheel of his tour bus early Sunday when it slammed into a collection of freeway barrels that mark the interchange of Interstate 610 and U.S. Highway 59 in Bellaire, a southwest Houston enclave.
He was thrown through the windshield and suffered severe injuries. Doctors have performed two brain surgeries on the Grammy-winning singer.
On Sunday, doctors removed a blood clot that was putting pressure on his brain. Doctors on Tuesday took him to surgery a second time after medication wasn’t lowering pressure that began to build in his brain around a bruise where the blood clot had been removed.
Valadka said Navaira has not had any complications from the second surgery.
Doctors will continue watching for improvements with his nervous system, including how he interacts with others, and start thinking about removing his breathing tube.
“He seems to be doing very well so far,” Valadka said.
The bus accident remains under investigation.
Police in Bellaire said Navaira was not licensed to drive the 26,000-pound tour bus. Authorities were awaiting the results of blood-alcohol tests and said it was possible he may have fallen asleep.
Raul Navaira, who was also on the bus, said his brother was accustomed to the long drives each weekend. Several members of Emilio Navaira’s band, including his brother, came away with less serious injuries
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