Mother Teresa’s Pneumonia Delays Treatment For Heart Ailment

Mother Teresa appeared tired and her condition deteriorated slightly Sunday, as doctors tried to cure her pneumonia so that they could concentrate on her heart ailment.

“Mother is still not out of danger and physicians remained concerned,” said a medical bulletin at the B.M. Birla Heart Research Center. “Today she appeared fatigued.”

But the 86-year-old Roman Catholic nun has remained attentive to her charity work, meeting with nuns to give them instructions concerning her Missionaries of Charity order.

A hospital statement Sunday said her bronchial pneumonia was worsening, despite “aggressive respiratory and antibiotic therapy.”

Her kidneys, however, were functioning, doctors at the hospital said.

Mother Teresa was hospitalized Nov. 22 after suffering a mild heart attack. She underwent an angioplasty on Nov. 29 to remove blockages in two arteries, but her recovery has been hampered by lung and kidney problems linked to the poor functioning of her heart.

Until Sunday, doctors had said they were pleased with her recovery.

Doctors have postponed planned treatment to correct her irregular heartbeat until her condition stabilizes further. They have said they would discharge Mother Teresa after treating her irregular heart rhythm.