Gloria Macapagal Arroyo asks for prayers amid family's health problems
Former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appealed to the public to pray for her family as she detailed the health problems they're going through.
In a statement published on her Facebook page, Arroyo shared how it has been a "difficult time for the family" after her husband, former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, and her son, former Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo, both had to undergo surgeries for their respective illnesses.
"My husband Mike's dissecting aortic aneurysm that required an emergency repair in 2007 is expanding again, and he will have to undergo a big surgery, combining a bypass and an aortoplasty, on April 7 to avert another emergency," Arroyo said.
She continued, "Then, our son Mikey's biopsy-revealed Stage One cancer of the thyroid gland, and he underwent surgery last March 18, thankfully, a successful one."
They're also mourning the death of businessman and heir to the Rustan Commercial Corporation Paowee Tantoco, who is the husband of her niece Dina.
"I have been spending much time with my constituents in Pampanga because I will be leaving soon for Singapore for Mike's surgery. Please pray for my family," Arroyo implored.
Her son recently posted pictures of himself recovering after his surgery, which lasted for five hours.
"Recovery room after five-hour thyroid removal surgery. Thank you Lord. I’m posting this not only to thank my family and close friends for their prayers but also to ask others not to ask favors first for at least week to allow me to heal faster. Thank you for your understanding," he wrote in his Facebook post.
Arroyo herself is no stranger to major health problems.
In early 2011, she was diagnosed with cervical radiculopathy, which is a neck ailment that causes pain that can spread beyond the neck and into the arm, chest, shoulders, and upper back.
She has since undergone three surgeries on her spine to address her condition.
However, in 2012, she faced another health issue when she showed signs of coronary ischemia, or having abnormally reduced blood flow in the coronary circulation. At the time, she was placed in the intensive care unit as she was at risk of a heart attack.
