Ducks’ Holan Could Leave Hospital in 1-3 Weeks

Mighty Duck defenseman Milos Holan has been removed from protective isolation and might be able to leave the hospital in the next one to three weeks, team physician Craig Milhouse said this week after visiting Holan, who is recovering from a Feb. 21 marrow transplant to treat his leukemia.

Milhouse and Duck captain Randy Ladouceur, the first team representatives to see Holan since the procedure, visited with him for nearly two hours this week at City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte. Holan has told the team that although he appreciates the support, he wants to get through this part of his recovery with few visits.

“He’s coming along well,” Milhouse said, adding that the three joked and laughed during the lengthy visit. “He was in good spirits.”

“He looked good,” said Ladouceur, who was Holan’s roommate on the road when Holan was playing with the Ducks while doctors searched for a marrow donor. “I knew going in he’d look different. But from the descriptions of what he had gone through, to me he looked better than I thought he would.”

Holan, 24, is past the first, most critical phase of his recovery, but is still being monitored closely as his body rebuilds a healthy immune system. Patients typically go home six weeks after the procedure, but remain on a recovery watch for several months. Full recovery takes about a year.

“He got on the bike for about 12 minutes the other day,” Ladouceur said. “He was a little tired after that, naturally.

“From what he told us, it was a rough go for a while, but he’s starting to feel a little better.”

Ladouceur and Milhouse took along the huge get-well banner signed by teammates and fans at a recent charity event.

“He was very appreciative,” Ladouceur said. “It was a little big to hang in his room, and the nurses didn’t want us pounding any nails in the walls anyway. But he is really appreciative of all the cards and support. He has them from all kinds of people, all hanging up on the walls.”