Possessed’s Jeff Becerra Has Infection Following Surgery
Jeff Becerra, frontman for legendary death metallers Possessed, has been paralyzed from the chest down since taking on two bullets in a 1989 robbery attempt. Becerra’s perseverance and eventual return to the stage has been inspiring, to say the least, but a life in a wheelchair is never short on complications, and Becerra underwent surgery last month to repair a pressure sore at the base of his spine he’d developed from constantly sitting. The recovery from that procedure hasn’t quite gone as planned, and Becerra is currently battling an infection at the incision site.
Describing the procedure, known as flap surgery, Becerra previously said:
“[The surgery] essentially is cutting out a large spot of flesh from my tailbone all the way down to the bone, grinding down the bone and removing all the dead bone. After that, a horseshoe shaped incision is cut all the way around my buttocks and filleted, then a slash up the side towards my back to allow the entire piece to pivot over to cover the wound. The entire thing is then stitched together from the inside, again stitched mid flesh, and stapled together all the way around.”
In a new update posted on Saturday, April 24, Jeff detailed the recent complications:
“Week eight, post surgery didn’t happen exactly the way we wanted. Dealing with an infection that popped up from where three incision points met. I’m hoping that with the help of strong antibiotics I can finally be ok for the first time in 11 years but it’s challenging to say the least. I’m staying here until I am healed or I run out of options.
“The US Joint Commission on Patient Safety estimates that more than 2.5 million patients in acute-care facilities suffer from pressure ulcers, and that 60 000 die from pressure ulcer complications each year. #jeffbecerra #possessed #wheelchair #musician #disabilityawareness (at Reno, Nevada, U.S.A)”
That’s not exactly the most optimistic post. Anyone who’s gone through any kind of significant surgery and subsequent rehab will tell you such an attitude is understandable, but that’s especially so in Becerra’s case after more than 30 years wheelchair-bound. We’re certainly hoping that Becerra has just let the moment get the best of him emotionally and that his prognosis for recovery is good. Wishing him the best of luck!
