Roy Home For The Holidays?

Mauled by one of his white tigers during a live stage show two months ago, illusionist Roy Horn of Siegfried & Roy fame may be home in Las Vegas by Christmas.

His manager and friend, Bernie Yuman, told co-anchor Harry Smith on The Early Show Tuesday that Horn's recovery is "nothing short of a miracle."

"He was really in the fight of his life," Yuman said of Roy's condition in October. "And now, nine weeks into this thing, we're so proud and so happy that he's recovering. It's remarkable. His recovery is absolutely nothing short of a miracle.

"Every day, he gets better. He's writing prolific notes. He's very specific about his condition, about where he is, about how he's going to go forward and we're excited about him coming home to celebrate Christmas in Las Vegas."

Horn is a patient at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles and has been breathing without a ventilator for several weeks now, Yuman said. "He's speaking in words now and he's totally cognizant," the manager explained. "His cognitive skills are intact, perfect. And in fact, indicative in his writing, in his prolific notes are his personality."

As an example, Yuman said, Horn would write, "I don't want any excuses and I want this done now." Yuman said Horn is ambulatory and has a strong handshake.

Friends are hopeful for a full recovery, he said, because Roy "has got a very, very powerful will. His mind has always been his strength and we believe that because of that, that he will be successful."

Yuman said Horn is working, too. The manager said the illusionist is collaborating with a creative team on plans for a digitally enhanced "Shrek"-like series.

Yuman also praised the part Horn's long time friend and partner Siegried Fischbacher played in the reocvery. "Siegfried has been on a vigil," Yuman said. "He's been by his side since the very first moment and I think that his optimism is infectious. He and Roy have this great camaraderie and they're really one person. They're souls in their hearts and their hearts are tied together."

In the days following the Oct. 3 attack, Fischbacher downplayed Roy's injuries, describing the illusionist's wound as "a little punch hole" on the left side of his neck. Fischbacher said a stroke Roy suffered after the incident resulted from blood pressure medication that sometimes made him feel faint.

Horn, 59, was mauled by one of the white tigers featured in the duo's show at The Mirage hotel-casino in Las Vegas. Fischbacher has suggested that the animal was trying to help Horn, but other animal experts disputed that.

Yuman, too, told Harry Smith that Horn was never attacked or mauled, but was injured in "a terrible accident."

"Siegfried has done over 30,000 live shows in over 44 years and never scratched," Yuman said. "In reality, Roy is going to come here and he's going to tell you exactly what happened on that night. But he was picked up and carried to safety, very gently.

"Had there been anything other than a gentle approach, then we wouldn't be sitting here talking about it today."