Gary recovering, being monitored

MANILA, Philippines — Barely 24 hours after he underwent an open-heart surgery at an undisclosed hospital, Gary Valenciano was declared to be “doing well” by his doctors although he needed to be closely monitored since the next two to three days (until today) were said to be critical.

“He’s recovering fast,” Gary’s wife Angeli Pangilinan texted The STAR, “and his doctors are amazed. Gary daw is defying statistics.”

Gary, who is turning 54 in August, assured the public in a long social-media message before he entered the hospital that he was in safe hands, being taken great care by the doctors who have been attending to him for many, many years. Gary said that he decided to post the message to avoid gossip and misinformation.

“Two weeks ago on my 35th anniversary,” he recalled in his May 5 post, “I was performing with my son Gabriel. To some, it may have looked routine movements for my songs of yesteryear, but that performance was one that I wouldn’t ever forget. My life from that point would never be the same again.”

Revealing why, he continued, “After that dance, I felt a sensation that I never felt before, not even when I was riding my bike. But I would feel tired and sleepy even when I was fully rested. That day, I felt tightness and pain in my chest.”

Upon being examined, said Gary, “My doctors found that I have a strong heart, all my blood vessels were okay, which was miraculous considering that I’ve been a Type 1 diabetic for 35 years, but except one. My main valve, the LAD (Left Anterior Descending artery), was 95 percent blocked.”

On Sunday, May 6, Gary went under the knife. It was a six-hour open-heart operation performed by one surgeon, monitored by a team of cardiologists, endocrinologists, pulmonologists and juniors. At around 7:30 p.m., the procedure was finished and at the Recovery Room, Gary was surrounded by his family (Angeli and their children).

“He needs prayers to fully recover,” said Angeli.

Before his confinement, Gary assured everybody that he would be okay.

He wrote, “I believe in my God who restores, my God who heals and rescues, my God who is my strength, and my God who gives each of us a thousand second chances.”

And he made a vow, “One day soon, I will give my all on that stage again.”