Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was discharged from a Sao Paulo hospital on Sunday after undergoing emergency surgery for an intracranial hemorrhage. The 79-year-old leader made a surprise appearance at a news conference where he assured reporters, "I am here in one piece... returning home calmly." He smiled and waved as he left Hospital Sirio-Libanes, where he received treatment.

The surgery, which took place on Tuesday, was necessary after Lula fell in October at his presidential residence in Brasilia, suffering a blow to the head. Doctors drilled into his skull to relieve pressure from the buildup of fluid. He later had a follow-up procedure on Thursday to reduce the risk of further bleeding.

Lula will remain in Sao Paulo until Thursday for follow-up tests but is expected to return to his normal routine in Brasilia once cleared. While he can resume most activities, he has been advised to avoid physical exercise for 15 days. Doctors have praised his recovery, which they described as exceeding expectations.

Lula had felt symptoms like headaches and fatigue last Monday, which led to the discovery of the hemorrhage. Despite being worried by the urgency of the situation, he stated, "I'm sure that I'm cured and that I just need to take care of myself." He will skip end-of-year holidays at the beach but is in good spirits as he returns home to continue his recovery.

This health scare adds to Lula's long history of health challenges, including previous treatment for throat cancer in 2011 and a hip replacement last year.