Sunday, April 15, 2007 Be patient: Vidal to Mike Arroyo
WHILE they claim that First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo’s condition has improved already so that two medical tubes can be removed from his chest, doctors of the presidential spouse are keeping close tabs on his lungs for possible infection.
Attending physician Juliet Cervantes also said yesterday that Arroyo is responding to commands and can move his extremities thereby indicating he is not brain-dead.
This, as Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal told the first gentleman to be patient about his slow recovery.
“Be patient. The Lord has many surprises for us,” Vidal told Arroyo when the prelate visited the First Gentleman at the St. Luke’s Medical Center where he also said mass for the presidential spouse’s recovery.
In a press conference, Cervantes said, “at this point in time of the game, the most likely focus of risk of infection are the lungs although we do not have concrete evidence as such.”
90-95 percent chance
Radio dzBB reported that Cervantes, when asked about the chances of Arroyo’s recovery rate going above 90 to 95 percent, said the chances are “very big.”
But Cervantes admitted they are at a loss on how to break the news to the First Gentleman if boxer Manny Pacquiao loses to Jorge Solis in Texas Sunday (Manila time). Arroyo is a major patron of Pacquiao.
“Baka kasi tumaas blood pressure. Babalitaan na lang natin kung manalo si Pacquiao, kung natalo siya we will just keep quiet (His blood pressure may go up. We’ll tell him if Pacquiao wins but if he loses, we’ll just keep quiet),” she said.
Cervantes said Arroyo’s heart is “very, very stable” and his gastrointestinal tract is working so he is able to tolerate the tubes.
When asked when the other chest tubes will be removed, she said they will be removed when he is “completely off the ventilator already,” but did not give a time frame.
Cervantes said the ventilator is working at “one-fourth” capacity and that “the rest (of the breathing is) being done by him already.”
Renal replacement therapy
But she said the kidneys are still recovering and may start functioning “in the coming days.” In the meantime, Arroyo will still have to undergo renal replacement therapy, she said.
“Overall the First Gentleman’s medical team, the President and First Family are happy with this development,” she said.
When asked about the First Gentleman’s likelihood of recovery, she said it remained at 80 percent but it will be “very dynamic.”
Meanwhile, radio dzBB reported that Vidal blessed Arroyo. The cardinal described Arroyo’s complexion as “normal and not pale.”
President Arroyo and First Daughter Evangeline Lourdes Arroyo accompanied Vidal into the intensive care unit.
When asked how the First Gentleman responded, Vidal said he “nodded,” an indication he was aware of the cardinal’s presence.
Radio dzBB reported that security at St. Luke’s was further tightened starting early yesterday, with presidential guards searching vehicles going in and out of the hospital.
Presidential guards also continued to frisk visitors, including those visiting other patients confined in the hospital. (Sunnex)
