She would have opted home after the harrowing ordeal she has gone through but nay, Perlite
Almonte, the 35-year- old courier supervisor, who had been bed-ridden while recuperating from brain
hemorrhage for almost two years at Rashid, has no such plan.
Almonte, who could only mouth words as she is still breathing through a ventilator, told The Filipino
Times, she will go back to work once she has fully recovered.
The overseas Filipino worker only has sincerest gratitude to the doctors of Rashid Hospital, who did not
give up on over the past two year. Almonte was admitted to the hospital on April 18, 2015 after she was
found unconscious in the bathroom of her workplace. She regained full consciousness in January 2016
and had since undergone therapy.
When asked if her company is waiting for her to come back and resume her old position despite her two-
year absence, she nodded “Yes” with a big smile.
Almonte suffered an intracerebral hemorrhage due to aneurysmal bleeding, a life-threatening type of
stroke caused by bleeding within the brain. The condition left her on and off consciousness after
undergoing a series of surgical procedures and was never able to get out of bed for almost two years.
Almonte’s sister Jennifer Basco said, Perlite, her “ate” (big sister), was already working on bringing her
children to Dubai to join her when she had the attack. Almonte has a 16 year-old daughter and a 15 year-
old son.
“She was looking for a flat at the time so her kids could live with her. Everything was all set. So, she will
continue as planned, once she has fully recovered,” Basco said.
Almonte said there had been a point when she almost gave up on life, “after one year here,” pointing to
her bed.
Her mother, Lily Basco shared that as Almonte’s mother, it was painful for her to see her daughter in such
state, half her brain exposed for months, as doctors needed to drain water from it after the surgeries.
“Masakit sa akin bilang nanay na makita siyang nahihirapan. Kaya nagpapasalamat ako sa mga taong
dumalaw sa kanya dito sa ospital na nakatulong sa pagpapalakas ng kanyang loob. Palagay ko isa sa
malaking factor iyon na nakatulong upang gumaling si Perly,” the elder Basco said.
Almonte’s loved ones also disclosed that once fully recovered, she will continue her studies but will take
up a medical-related course as she has become inspired by the medical professionals who attended to her
at the hospital.
Almonte is currently on intensive active physiotherapy and neurological rehabilitation program to help
her regain her motor skills.
