Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro began a delicate recovery in intensive care on Monday after a tricky 12-hour surgery for recurring intestinal issues since he was stabbed while campaigning in 2018.

Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro was hospitalized for severe abdominal pain related to a wound sustained when he was stabbed on the campaign trail seven years ago.

The conservative leader has been hospitalized since Friday due to a bowel obstruction related to long-term effects of being stabbed in the abdomen in September 2018.