Isabel Granada succumbs to aneurysm

MANILA, Philippines — Barely 12 days after she suffered brain hemorrhage due to aneurysm in Qatar on Oct. 25, actress Isabel Granada passed away at the Hamad General Hospital in Doha where she remained in coma, sustained only by life support from Day 1. She turned 41 last March.

On Nov. 1, All Saints’ Day, doctors declared Isabel brain dead. She died at around 6 p.m. Qatar time on Nov. 4, or around 11 p.m. Saturday Manila time. Her mom, Isabella Granada (Isabel, an only child, was her junior), son Hubert (by her first husband Geryk Genasky Aguas) and second husband Arnel Cowley, along with Geryk had flown to Doha to take care of Isabel.

“Mama Guapa was at the hospital’s coffee shop when a Filipina nurse working at Hamad told her about Isabel’s passing,” according to a Granada family friend. “She fainted upon hearing the sad news.”

But the life support was never removed because Isabel’s family were “storming the walls of heaven” for a miracle.

In an official statement, Cowley said: “It is with great sadness that my wife Isabel Granada has peacefully passed here in Doha Qatar. She has been a fantastic wife, mother and daughter. She always did her best in everything she did, whether it be in front of a camera or sports. I would also like to take this time to thank the Filipino community in Doha for giving their full support throughout this difficult time for myself and the family.

Baby..wherever you might be..just always remember that I LOVE YOU. and I miss you very much.”

“They just waited for Isabel to breathe her last,” actor Chuckie Dreyfus, who remained Isabel’s close friend even after their loveteam days were over, told The STAR. “Hindi talaga nila tinanggal. Mama Guapa was in denial until Saturday, a day before Isa died, she surrendered Isa to the Lord.”

It’s recalled that during a friend’s wake in Australia, Isabel casually said that, as she was quoted in her Facebook post, if and when her “joyous union with Him” came, she would want her remains cremated.

Her wish will be granted but depending on the decision of Mama Guapa whose husband, Humberto Granada, also succumbed to aneurysm several years ago.

“The family never suspected that Isa would go so soon because she was healthy, a health buff,” added Chuckie who would hit the gym with Isabel. “She would sometimes complain of dizziness and headache and the family thought it was migraine.”

That fateful day of Oct. 25, Isabel even played tennis hours before she was scheduled to speak at a gathering for Starnet, a networking business she managed with Arnel. Right there and then, she felt dizzy before she collapsed and was rushed to the Hamad intensive care unit.

“A week before she flew to Qatar,” added Chuckie who is godfather to Isabel’s only son Hubert, 15 (while Isabel was the godmother of one of Chuckie’s two children), “Isa called to inquire who my trainer was. Sabay daw kami mag-workout.”

At presstime yesterday, Mama Guapa, Arnel and Hubert had just boarded the flight to Manila. The initial plan is to hold the wake at the Santuario de San Jose in Greenhills, San Juan City, for public viewing and the cremation to be held on Sunday, Nov. 12.