PRAYERS

Doctors of Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appeal for prayers
as she   undergoes surgery on cervical spine 7am Friday morning to
address her pinched nerve .
Dr Juliet gopez Cervantes said the decision was reached after a
doctors’ conference with Arroyo and her family. Cervantes said the
decision was reached as a definitive solution after medical management
consisting of rehabilitation and medicine failed to address its
deterioration. It has been giving her  severe pain and neurologic
deficit.  “We confined her because of the recurrence of neck pain and
based on our evaluation supported by our work-ups that we did for the
past two days, we have concluded that cervical spine has really given
her problems particularly and most especially the pain compounded with
her progressive neurologic deficit, we have no way but to recommend
surgery because the medical manegemtn cosisted mainly of rehab and
muscle relaxants are providing help but not completely because of the
recurrence.”
Cervantes said the procedure will last 4-5 hours after which she will
be brought to the surgical intensive care unit. Cervantes explained
that hospital protocol dictates that all surgery patients be brought
to the icu after surgery as a precaution especially since she’s a
former president. Cervantes said there’s a small possibility there
could be problems. Cervantes said  they hope to return arroyo to her
regular room within a week. “We will be able to transfer her to her
regular room after one day.”
Arroyo’s main orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Mario Ver will lead a team of at
least 10 doctors who will work on the procedure.
Ver explained the disease deteriorated after conservative treatment of
years. Doctors plan to decompress the affected nerve. They hope to use
implants to reconstruct the affected spine. Ver hopes the neurologic
deficit and numbness will be recovered.   “some weakness of the
shoulder power, wrist and finger power”

Ver says arroyo’s pinched nerve affects nerve roots.
“So the plan is for the decompression of cervical nerves roots and
then do a fusion, we call this  ACDF anterior cervical decompression
and fusion
We will be utilizing implants, bone substitute to be able to do this.
This will be done under intraop spinal cord monitoring where we would
be using SSEP and NEP to monitor the entire the motor and sensory so
this going to more or less make sure that the cord will be going to be
patent and not damaged.”

Ver said while they have never had any mortality, there is always that
risk of infection and affect to structures because spine surgery is
delicate.
Ver said the implants will be titanium material and could cost a few
hundreds of thousands of pesos.
Cervantes said arroyo has been advised not to receive visitors
anymore. Cervantes herself appealed for prayers for the former
president saying it is a very difficult procedure.
“we want to ask prayers of everynody, ths is not a simple procedure,
as mentioned by dr ver, it is one of the most diff procedures because
the nerves invovles are not the simple nerves, they have major
functions in the movement and sensation of the arms as well as the
pattern of breathing of the individual as well as other organs that
might be touched and dispalced a bit during actual procedure so we are
asking yur prayers and we will see to it you will be posted if not tom
afternoo, the following day”

Arroyo ally and family friend, candaba mayor jerry pelayo brought some
30 candaba barangay captains to visit with arroyo earlier today. The
barangay captains waved to arroyo from afar since arroyo is already
being prepared for surgery.
Pelayo said as a friend, he himself had reservations for the surgery
considering the risk. His friend say it should be done in the US.
However he said it is the family’s decision on when and where to have
the surgery as he is not a member of the family.
Pelayo said all the members of the Arroyo family were at the
conference, which include sons mikey and dato and daughter luli.

Meantime LEGAL SPOKESPERSON RAUL lambino said the former leader is
already preparing for surgery. Tomorrow, even family members wont be
allowed near her. Lambino said the former leader is in high spirits
and is prepared for the dangerous procedure.

STATEMENT OF FORMER FIRST GENTLEMAN MIKE ARROYO ON ER SWITCHING ALLEGATION

Official statement of former FG Atty Mike Arroyo on the hearsay allegation of Rafael Santiago that i funded d switching of ERs operation – “our persecution continues. we are continuously being vilified and maligned based on hearsay evidence. i don’t know these people who are spreading these lies about me. after more than a year in ofc, it’s still all politics. for a non performing administration, we are being used as scapegoats. we are being used as a media fodder to mask this admin’s lack of solid and long-term economic program. the aquino admin should be reminded that our country is headed into an economic doldrum and sadly it isn’t doing anything about it.”