Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ready for surgery

Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is still undergoing “work-ups” or medical evaluation by a team of doctors so no date has been set for her neck surgery, her lawyer said Wednesday.

Lawyer Raul Lambino said he went to visit Arroyo at the St. Luke’s Medical Center where the latter has been confined since Monday afternoon for neck pain caused by damage to her spine.

“She is a little bit better, better than she was two days ago,” he said in a phone interview.

“Procedures for her work-up were ongoing,” he said. The date of the surgery would depend on when the doctors will finish their evaluation, he said.

Expressions of support and prayers

Lambino said the 64-year-old ex-president was surrounded by her children, grandchildren and her husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo.

He said Arroyo, who is now a Pampanga representative, was grateful for the many expressions of support and prayers for her speedy recovery.

“She is overwhelmed by the support. That is what keeps her spirits up, the words of encouragement” Lambino said in Filipino.

“She never anticipated her detractors would say those nice words. For that, she is very thankful,” he said.

Prepared for the operation

Lambino said from what he saw of Arroyo, she is ready for the operation.

“Psychologically, emotionally and spiritually, I think she has already prepared herself for the surgery,” the lawyer said.

Well-wishers continued to arrive at the hospital on Wednesday, led by former Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez and former Social Welfare and Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral.

Lambino said Cabral’s visit helped boost Arroyo’s confidence as the former health secretary, who is a medical doctor, was able to give her inputs on her condition.

The embattled former chief of the Local Water Utilities Administration Prospero Pichay and Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo also paid Arroyo a visit.

Dr. Juliet Gopez-Cervantes, Arroyo’s main attending physician, said a team of doctors had diagnosed the former President to be suffering from cervical spondylosis, a condition in which the disks in the neck deteriorate because of age-related wear and tear.