Perlie Almonte, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who had been hospitalized for two years in Dubai has finally come home to her family, but her battle against stroke and brain aneurysm is far from over.
Almonte, who was was under comatose for nine months due to intracerebral haemorrhage, confirmed to The Filipino Times that she has arrived in the Philippines on Sunday night.
“Emotionally, I am happy, but physically I am still recovering. I will continue my rehabilitation here,” Almonte told TFT through a Facebook chat.
At present, she could not speak yet because she had undergone tracheostomy, but she responds by typing on her phone.
Almonte is currently admitted in Laguna Doctors Hospital in Sta. Cruz to continue her rehabilitation and active physiotherapy sessions.
“I can’t estimate when will I be [fully recovered]. But to be able to walk and talk again, with God’s grace, hopefully by December,” she said.
Lily Basco, Perlie’s mother, said their family also could not contain their happiness on being able to reunite with her.
“Masaya naman po kami dahil andito na na siya kasama niya mga anak niya. Hopefully mapabilis ang recovery niya dito,” basco told TFT. “Halinhinan kami sa pagbabantay sa kanya umaga at gabi.”
Almonte, a former supervisor at DHL, was first admitted to the hospital of April 28, 2015 after she was found unconscious in the bathroom of her house.
During her two-year stay at the Rashid Hospital, she had undergone endovascular coiling, a procedure performed to block blood flow into an aneurysm.
Despite the long process, Almonte expressed optimism on her recovery, especially now that she is surrounded by children and family.
She also called on families of brain aneurysm and stroke patients to treat them with compassion and patience.
“For the family of stroke patients, support is very important. Yes they can’t respond but they still hear your voice. Always tell how much you love and need them. Have faith and never lose hope. It will take time they will wake up soon, I promise,” she said.
Almonte also knocks on your heart to help her get through the challenges by helping her pay for medical expenses.
Donations may be sent through an online crowdfunding: https://gogetfunding.com/aneurysm-and-stroke-recovery-fund/
Photo credit: Perlie Almonte
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Dubai OFW flies home after 9-month coma, therapy
After two years of hospitalization, a Dubai-based overseas Filipino worker (OFW) can finally say “home sweet home”.
Perlie Almonte, who had been under comatose for nine months due to intracerebral haemorrhage, flew to the Philippines on Sunday after a series of active physiotherapy sessions at Rashid Hospital, Gulf News’ Janice Ponce de Leon reported.
“I am so excited to go home. The first thing I’d love to do is hug my two kids,” she told Gulf News by typing the words on her phone.
The report said Almonte could not speak because she had undergone tracheostomy, but she responds by nodding or typing some words on her phone.
Almonte, a supervisor at DHL, was first admitted to the hospital of April 28, 2015 after she was found unconscious in the bathroom of her house.
An earlier statement from Dubai Health Authority said Almonte gained consciousness in January 2016.
In a Facebook post, Almonte thanked staff at Rashid Hospital’s compassion and medical attentional.
“You have been my therapists, supporters, friends, family, well-wishers and angels in disguise. Medicines can cure, a good doctor’s and nurse’s inspirational words can give the strength to fight from within,” she said.
She will continue her rehabilitation at Laguna Doctors Hospital in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.
Almonte’s mother, Lily, said her employer, DHL, shouldered her hospital bills and repatriation.
Filipina patient wakes up after 9 months in comatose
A woman, who recently woke up from a nine-month coma is ready to go back to the Philippines to see her children after undergoing treatment and physiotherapy at Rashid Hospital.
Perlite Almonte, 35, was first admitted to the hospital on April 18, 2015 after she was found unconscious in the bathroom of her house, Gulf News reported.
Dr. Zeyad Al Rais, Head of Critical Care Department at Rashid Hospital, reportedly said Almonte fell into a coma because of intracerebral hemorrhage, a life-threatening type of stroke caused by bleeding within the brain tissue.
“Perlite suffered from an intracerebral hemorrhage due to aneurysmal bleeding,” Al Rais was quoted as saying.
An aneurysm is a balloon-like bulge or weakening of the arterial wall, Dr Al Rais explained. As the bulge grows, the arterial wall becomes thinner and weaker. It can become so thin that the blood pressure within can cause it to burst or leak, the report said.
Most aneurysms develop from a weakness or abnormal artery wall. In most cases, they show no symptoms and can go unnoticed.
“Perlite underwent a surgical intervention to drain the blood. Due to the critical location of the bleeding, the respiratory and hemodynamic functions were affected, and she was kept on a ventilator for more than two weeks, hence the decision was taken to perform tracheostomy, which helped her to gradually be weaned off the mechanical ventilation. We also started early physiotherapy to enhance her muscular power, while she was in coma,” Al Rais explained.
Almonte reportedly gained consciousness sometime in January 2016, nine months after being admitted. It was then that Dr Al Rais was able to start intensive active physiotherapy and put in place a neurological rehabilitation plan.
“Now, after nine months on being comatose on ventilator with tracheostomy tube, I am happy to say that the patient is fully conscious,” Al Rais was quoted as saying.
Almonte’s neurological state is also stable. She has been successfully weaned her off the ventilator and regained some of her motor skills. She can now walk with people’s help, said the news portal.
“I have spent over a year and nine months at Rashid Hospital, I now consider the doctors and nurses at the hospital my family. I am truly thankful for the treatment I have received at Rashid Hospital. I am glad that I am recovering and I can’t wait to go to the Philippines to see my children,” the mother of two, who used to work as a supervisor in a courier company, reportedly said.
Al Rais reportedly said Rashid Hospital has one of the most equipped and specialized critical care departments in the UAE, adding that the hospital has a high success rate in treating patients similar to Almonte’s case.
“We are now working on an intensive rehabilitation plan for Perlie. Our aim is to make her independent as much as possible so that she can lead a regular life,” Gulf News quoted Al Rais as saying.
