The medical outlook for one of the three Canadian soldiers wounded in Afghanistan is "very, very guarded," says a military surgeon.

Cpl. Jeffrey Bailey of Edmonton was relatively stable on Thursday but "could pass away from his head injury," Lt.-Col. Ron Brisebois told reporters at the University of Alberta hospital treating the three men.

Bailey's brain is swelling, and every time doctors reduce the amount of drugs he's taking, the swelling increases. Swellings usually peak 72 hours after an injury, but the three were wounded 11 days ago, Brisebois said.

Jeffrey Bailey
Jeffrey Bailey

Bailey also has an infection that's resistant to drugs, a blood clot caused by lying in bed, minor fractures and burns on his hands. He is not conscious.

"His overall outcome remains very, very guarded," Brisebois said.

Pte. William Salikin of Grand Forks, B.C., who also has a head injury, is using a breathing machine less and is responding to people.

He also has an infection, but overall, "he continues to make progress," Brisebois said.

Master Cpl. Paul Franklin of Halifax lost his left leg above the knee. "He's in very good spirits," although he is facing a possible amputation of his right leg or "a fairly long reconstructive surgery process."

That decision has not been made yet.

He will get skin grafts on both hands next week.

A suicide bomber drove into the vehicle carrying the soldiers on Jan. 15, killing Canadian diplomat Glyn Berry.

Berry's funeral was in London on Thursday.