Timeline: Mandela’s nearly 3-month hospital stay

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – The main developments since 95-year-old South African anti-apartheid hero and former president Nelson Mandela was admitted to hospital on June 8 until his discharge on Sunday, Sept 1:

JUNE, 2013

– 8: Mandela is readmitted to hospital with a renewed lung infection and is in a “serious but stable condition”, the presidency says.

– 12: President Jacob Zuma says Mandela is “responding better to treatment from this morning”.

As on previous days, his family, including his wife Graca Machel, visit him at the Mediclinic Heart Hospital in Pretoria.

– 17: Mandela is “doing very well”, one of his daughters, Zenani Mandela-Dlamini, says.

Machel thanks the world for its messages of support.

– 22: The presidency says the icon remains in a “serious but stable condition in hospital”, as the US news channel CBS says that Mandela is “unresponsive” and “has not opened his eyes for days”.

– 23: Mandela’s condition appears to have worsened. The presidency says Mandela has been in a critical condition “over the past 24 hours”.

– 25: Close family of Mandela gather at his rural homestead in Qunu.

– 26: Mandela is on life support, an elder in Mandela’s clan, Napilisi Mandela, says.

President Zuma cancels a trip to Mozambique.

UN leader Ban Ki-moon says that the whole world is praying for Mandela, “one of the giants of the 20th century”.

Court documents filed that evening claim Mandela is in a “vegetative state” and that Mandela’s doctors advised his family to turn off his life support machine, citing his perilous health.

– 27: There is relief as Zuma says that the condition of Mandela had improved overnight. He remains critical but stable.

His daughter Makaziwe Mandela says his condition is “very critical” and “anything is imminent”.

– 30: Visiting US President Barack Obama goes to Robben Island and visits the cell where Mandela spent 18 years as a political prisoner.

A day earlier Obama had hailed him as “an inspiration to the world” and met members of his family.

JULY, 2013

– 4: Mandela has occasionally been uncomfortable but has not been in pain, Machel says.

The exhumed remains of Mandela’s three deceased children at the centre of a family feud are reburied in Qunu, after being exhumed and positively identified.

– 5: Mandela’s doctors have rejected the idea of turning off life support unless he suffers massive organ failure, a close family friend says.

– 10: The presidency reports that Mandela is “responding to treatment.”

– 18: Mandela spends his 95th birthday in hospital, his health is said to be “steadily improving.”

AUGUST, 2013

– 8: Mandela marks two months in hospital, as former wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela says he is “now breathing normally”.

Doctors had managed to contain his lung infection but kept “draining fluid from the lungs” she repots.

– 24: The South African government says Mandela’s health is unstable at times but he has shown “great resilience” and his condition tends to stabilise as a result of medical interventions.”

– 31: The presidency denies reports Mandela has been discharged from hospital.

SEPTEMBER, 2013

– 1: Mandela is discharged from hospital and is moved to his Johannesburg home, where he will continue to receive intensive medical care.

He “remains critical and is at times unstable” the presidency said. – Rappler.com