“Courage is the discovery that you may not win, and trying when you know you can lose.”—Tom Krause

For many people around the world (depending on your specific religious beliefs, I suppose), Monday April 25th was a day of Easter celebration—a chance to spend some “quality time” with the crazier members of your families, and to maybe even enjoy a carb-heavy meal or two along the way.

For Will Ribeiro however, this was also a day that he had been looking forward to for a very, very long time. It was a day that was as much feared, as it was welcomed.

As many of you may already know, Will Ribeiro suffered a terrible head trauma a little over two years ago in his home country of Brazil when he was injured on his motorcycle, which ultimately ruined this young athlete’s very promising fighting career. With over 30 percent of his skull removed due to the seriousness of his injuries, a major indent was formed on the right side of Will’s head, making it extremely difficult for him to go out into public without having to worry about people staring or laughing as he went by.

A head injury such as the one that Will suffered has a tremendous psychological effect on a person, as well as physical, but luckily, there is a surgical procedure known as “Cranioplasty” that specifically helps with the repair of any defect or deformity of the skull.

This procedure is usually very expensive, but it isn’t exactly a routine root canal either. In fact, this is a very complicated and serious operation that far from guarantees that the patient will ever wake up.

For Will, yesterday was the big day of his surgery, and I have to tell you, that as strong and courageous as Will normally is, I know that he was absolutely “terrified” by the real possibility that he may never wake up. Despite that however, Will remained positive and optimistic, as he placed his life into the hands of the doctors.

Well, I have good news. The surgery was apparently a huge success and Will is recovering just fine.

Below is a message that he posted on his Facebook page:

Documentary Material for the Rehabilitation of the Athlete International MMA Will Ribeiro
Hospital Santa Teresa - Petrópolis
Doctors in charge: Dr. Edelton, Marcos, Marcelo and Bruno

“This plastic surgery cranioplasty in any private hospital here in Brazil, would not leave for less than 120,000 reias [Equal to $76,677.00 USD], now thanks to Doctor Program Edelton Ali, his research and made more than 12 years in Sao Paulo, simple people like me who cannot afford 120,000 reias can enter this design, material and national custom in Brazil-Campinas, fits perfectly in the local deformed, and the surgery performed in a hospital in the first Petrópolis if risk contamination. Thank God there are still good people here in Brazil that cares about others.

“Petrópolis is to be congratulated, public health here and first, the health of the River could look up at the Hospital Santa Teresa, here they are a partner in the private hospital with the SUS, is AWESOME, and particularly the Hospital and at the same time, public.”

Please add Will as a friend on Facebook to view a video of his procedure, and to congratulate him on a successful surgery. I know it would mean a lot to him. He loves his family, friends and fans.

Thank you.

These are my opinions. If you don’t like them…I have others. Check them out at www.mrjamesryan.com

Desolate Warrior is my new self-published book, which is set to be released at Midnight on April 30, 2011 via the Internet (Lulu.com), immediately following the UFC 129 event.

For more information on the life and struggles of former Brazilian Olympic boxer and professional MMA fighter, Will Ribeiro, please visit www.desolatewarrior.com