Mantle in Good Spirits, Serious Condition

Mickey Mantle is lucky to be alive.

A stroke of luck gained Mantle a donated liver just days before he would have died. Now he must hope his luck holds out a few days longer and the transplanted organ avoids infection, rejection by the body or the kind of bleeding that rushed him into surgery early Friday.

His luck faltered a bit in the early morning hours of Friday when internal bleeding was detected by a nurse. It took surgeons about 30 minutes to correct the problem.

After the procedure, Mantle, 63, was taken off his respirator, watched morning TV shows and was in good spirits.

“He said that he feels good and, when asked what his thoughts are, he said, ‘Incredible,’ ” said Dr. Robert Goldstein, his surgeon. “So I think right now that he’s doing remarkably well and we’re very, very pleased with his progress.”

Mantle’s condition was upgraded late Friday from critical to serious but stable at Baylor University Medical Center. Doctors said the first 48 to 72 hours after the transplant would be a dangerous period in which infection, rejection or bleeding could occur.

A Baylor spokeswoman said in a recorded update that Mantle is awake, alert and resting comfortably.

Chris Morris, manager of the medical center’s research department, said Mantle is receiving anti-rejection drugs.

A surgical team removed Mantle’s liver, which was ravaged by cancer, hepatitis and drinking, and replaced it with one from an unidentified donor.

On Friday morning, Mantle began losing blood and received transfusions before his second operation. There was no further bleeding Friday and Goldstein said Mantle could leave the hospital within several weeks.