This was in today's paper...(
http://www.bangornews.com)
King's health continues to improve
Immigration judge orders alleged stalker deported to Czech Republic
BANGOR - The tube inserted in author Stephen King's chest a week ago to help extract fluid from his lungs was removed Tuesday, and he was reportedly doing fine.As King's health continues to improve, new developments in the case of the Czech man charged with stalking King last month have occurred.
Bretislav Bures, 38, was ordered Monday removed from the United States to his native Czech Republic by U.S. Immigration Judge Michael Straus in Hartford.
Bures, most recently of Austell, Ga., was arrested while sitting in a car across from King's West Broadway residence on Nov. 16 after he reportedly harassed the couple and left notes on their mailbox asking to speak with the best-selling author.
The next day, Bures pleaded not guilty to one charge of stalking in 3rd District Court in Bangor . Because his visitor's visa expired in 2000, Bures was in the custody of the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement less than 24 hours after his arrest.
Bangor police impounded the vehicle and it remained at Union Street Citgo until Saturday when it was recovered by its owner, Ellen Sendgzkoski, also of Austell, Ga. Sendgzkoski showed proof of ownership of the car and also claimed to be Bures' girlfriend, according to Bangor police.
Bures has 30 days to appeal the decision, but most likely will be escorted out of the country as soon as travel papers can be obtained and returned to the Czech Republic at U.S. taxpayers' expense.
About a week after the alleged stalker was arrested near the King home, Stephen King underwent a surgical procedure called a thoracotomy to remove fluid and scar tissue from his right lung, according to King's Bangor attorney, Warren Silver.
King, 56, was hospitalized Nov. 23 at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor after the pneumonia, first diagnosed in his right lung, spread to the other lung.
King's family has been visiting him throughout his hospital stay, Silver said. The author has requested no other visitors and no flowers.
King was diagnosed with pneumonia before his recent trip to New York City to receive the National Book Foundation's 2003 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, presented Nov. 19 for lifetime achievement.
The author's condition became worse when he returned home to Bangor and doctors diagnosed him with pleural effusion, an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the membrane surrounding the lung. King then underwent a surgery to remove the fluid.
The author was taken off oxygen over the weekend and the tube that had been inserted in his chest to help eliminate fluid and scar tissue was removed Tuesday.
"We know he's getting stronger every day and he's making progress," Silver said.
He had not visited King for a couple of days, but Silver said he spoke with King's wife, Tabitha, via phone on Tuesday.
"His stay in the hospital is sort of on a day by day basis," the spokesman said. "We're not sure what's going to happen in that regard."
Silver previously noted a connection between the pneumonia and a serious accident in which King was involved.
King was nearly killed in June 1999 when a van driven by Bryan Smith of Fryeburg struck the author as he walked on the shoulder of a road in North Lovell, where he has a summer home.
King suffered a broken leg and hip, a punctured lung, broken ribs and other injuries. He underwent a number of surgeries to repair his injuries.
Smith, who told police his dog had distracted him before hitting King, pleaded guilty to driving to endanger and his license was suspended for six months. He later was found dead at his home after an accidental overdose of a prescription drug.
The removal of King's chest tube was a major step in his recovery, and now the author and his doctors must decide how to get him stronger and better, Silver said.
The spokesman believes King still has another kind of intravenous line that will have to be removed at some point, but is unaware at this time of any other procedures King will have to undergo.
NEWS reporter Judy Harrison contributed to this story.
