2004 Miami-Dade mug shot of Ronald Poppo
CBS NEWS
MIAMI, Florida (CBSMiami/AP) - Doctors have released a photograph of Ronald Poppo, more than two weeks after the homeless man had most of his face chewed off during an attack by so-called Causeway Cannibal Rudy Eugene over the Memorial Day weekend.
Doctors from Jackson Memorial Hospital told reporters Tuesday that Poppo is awake and alert. They also showed a photograph of Poppo as he walked down a hospital hallway, supported by hospital staff on either side of him.
The photo shows the upper two-thirds of Poppo's face covered in thick, bloody scabs. He's missing his nose and both eye sockets are covered, one with gauze and one with what appears to be a skin graft.
CLICK HERE TO SEE CLOSE-UP PICTURES OF RONALD POPPO: WARNING, THEY ARE EXTREMELY GRAPHIC.
Doctors said Poppo is talking, doing well, and is very interested in the Miami Heat in the NBA Playoffs. He even told the doctors, "Go Heat."
Doctors also revealed Poppo is concerned about the way the media has portrayed him, but he doesn't listen to the news, only sports.
His left eye is gone, it was gouged out during the attack, but his right eye is still there, said doctors at the Tuesday afternoon news conference. It's not known yet whether he has any vision in his right eye, it remains bandaged up. They hope he'll have a little vision left.
Doctors also said that 50-percent of Poppo's face was chewed off, and not 75-percent as previously reported.
They described Poppo as very charming and positive and he can't wait to go swimming again.
Poppo has been at Jackson Memorial Hospital since he was attacked May 26 by Rudy Eugene, who moments earlier had been swinging naked on a nearby light pole.
A police officer shot and killed Eugene.
An autopsy revealed that Eugene had a number of undigested pills in his stomach, according to CBS4 news partner the Miami Herald.
Our news partners CBS 4 in Miami first reported that marijuana was also in Eugene's system at the time of the attack. A more in-depth toxicology screen for any other possible drugs will take another couple of months to complete.
GRAPHIC PHOTOS: More pictures of the South Beach cannibal victim
The Jackson Memorial Foundation has set up a fund to assist Poppo. So far they've raised $15,000.
Anyone interested in helping can make a donation through the Jackson Memorial Foundation website, www.jmf.org. To make a contribution, click the "Take Action Now" tab, and then click on donations. Once you are on the donation page, select "other" in the contribution details section and input: Ronald Poppo.
You may also write a check to Jackson Memorial Foundation and include Mr. Poppo's name in the memo portion. Checks can be mailed to:
Jackson Memorial Foundation
Park Plaza East
Suite G
901 N.W. 17th Street
Miami, FL 33136
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