GMA out of hospital after third surgery

MANILA, Philippines - Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo quietly left St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City Friday night, nine days after her third spinal surgery, her doctors said yesterday.

Dr. Juliet Gopez-Cervantes, Arroyo’s personal physician, said the former leader was discharged from the hospital at 9:30 p.m., accompanied by her husband Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo and other family members.

The Arroyos rode a coaster and proceeded directly to their home in La Vista, Quezon City.

She will not be allowed to receive visitors or attend sessions in Congress in the next several weeks.

Arroyo has an IV tube attached for antibiotics, and was still wearing a “halo vest” or a metal contraption that immobilizes her head and neck to ensure the healing of her neck vertebrae when she was discharged.

The daily healing mass for the recovery of the Pampanga lawmaker at the chapel of SLMC ended Saturday night after doctors declared her third operation successful, according to lawyer Raul Lambino, spokesman for the Arroyo family.

Lambino told The STAR that family members, friends and supporters of the Arroyos attended the daily masses over the last 10 days.

Masses would still be held in Pampanga for her full recovery, he said.

“The former President is happy and grateful to those who prayed, sent flowers and greetings for her early recovery,” he said.

Aside from the greetings and flowers, Lambino said fruits have been arriving at the hospital for Arroyo. However, the gifts were kept in a room as she was being isolated from visitors.

Security at the SLMC was tight yesterday when doctors announced that the former President was already discharged from the hospital.

A bomb-sniffing dog was posted at the entrance of the hospital and reporters waiting for the medical bulletin were confined to the lobby of the SLMC.

Arroyo first underwent surgery last July 29 to repair a damaged cervical spine that was putting pressure on her nerves and causing her much pain. The surgery, however, did not last as the titanium implants dislodged.

Her second surgery was also not successful as surgeons discovered the site of the previous operation had become infected and the dislocation of the implants was due to her weak bones caused by a rare medical condition called hypoparathyroidism.

Doctors attached a titanium mesh cage filled with bone grafts taken from her pelvic bone and 19 screws on her cervical spine during her third operation last Aug. 23.

Cervantes said the original plan was to discharge Arroyo either Friday or Saturday but the lawmaker “opted to sleep home.”

“With our day-to-day evaluation on progress she has made, she has improved remarkably so there is no more use for her to be in the hospital, plus the fact that being confined in the hospital for so long is too depressing. It is also not advisable for her to stay in the hospital because she’s also exposed to other infections,” Cervantes said.

A CT scan and an X-ray conducted on her a few days after the operation showed that the implants remained in place, she said.

Cervantes, however, added that Arroyo continues to be given pain relievers, high doses of vitamin D and calcium, as well as “parathyroid hormones” to strengthen her bones and hasten her healing.

Arroyo’s medical team will check on her condition on Sept. 6 and another CT scan and X-ray would be conducted in two weeks to see if there is bone growth and fusion.

According to Cervantes, the lawmaker lost some weight during her stay in the hospital but was already regaining her appetite.

Dr. Mario Ver, Arroyo’s chief surgeon, however, said it would take several months before she can be relieved of any form of neck brace as they have to make sure her neck bones are strong enough to move.

“We will see, we will determine the time she can report back to her work in Congress. Using the series of CT scans we will have in the coming months, so for the time being, it’s very difficult to determine the exact time as to when she can attend sessions in Congress,” Cervantes said.

She said Arroyo would occasionally experience spasms and stiffening of her neck muscles.

The former leader would be undergoing tests and therapy at the SLMC as an outpatient in the coming months, Cervantes added.