Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s medical condition getting better—St. Luke’s doctors

MANILA, Philippines—The condition of former president now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has improved, her physicians from St. Luke’s Medical Center said in a medical bulletin released Wednesday.

Dr. Juliet Gopez-Cervantes, along with the team of physicians who attend to the former president, said their patient was showing signs of recovery from her most recent operation.

Dr. Mario Ver, Arroyo’s orthopedic surgeon said his patient’s clinical condition showed progress after the former president’s post-operative consultation earlier Tuesday.

He said Arroyo showed a “remarkable improvements of her neurologic status” and that she no longer suffered from pains she earlier felt in her neck, arms, hands or weakness and numbness in her upper extremities.

The medical bulletin added Arroyo’s implant was seen as “stable” in her x-ray results. There were no signs the implant device was loosening or getting dislodged in the former president’s neck.

St. Luke’s Medical Center’s Radiology Institute Director, Dr. Bernie Laya, supported Arroyo’s physicians in saying that the Pampanga representative was showing signs of recovery from her operations.

Laya said there were signs of bone growth in the anterior column from C3 to C7 of Arroyo’s cervical spine.

The doctors added the halo vest that was screwed into Arroyo’s skull has been replaced with a less rigid brace three weeks ago. They said they have also advised the former president to do some neck movements to help in her recovery.