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‘Fitial’s spinal surgery a success’
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Posted on Oct 31 2006
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial is now recovering after undergoing a successful operation at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. The governor had a spine surgery yesterday, Oct. 31, 2006, 11:30am (Saipan time).
He contacted acting Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez shortly after his operation and informed the latter of the successful procedure.
“We are all very pleased with the outcome of the governor’s operation,” Villagomez said. “We were all praying for him and our prayers were answered.”
Fitial is expected to take one more month of medical leave to fully recover.
At 6am Tuesday, before the surgery, family members and friends sponsored a special Mass for Fitial at the San Jose Church in Oleai, which is the governor’s parish.
In an e-mail sent to friends and supporters before his surgery, Fitial said, “Josie [the First Lady] and I thank all of you for all your prayers and generous assistance and, especially, for the Mass of good intention offered at various parishes for a successful surgery and speedy recovery. God bless you all.”
Audrey Dutro, the governor’s executive secretary, said Fitial was “strengthened by the strong outpouring of prayers and support” before his surgery.
Fitial met with his Cabinet Monday morning through an Internet-based teleconference. “He was in very good spirits, repeatedly joking with the Cabinet members,” press secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr. said.
The governor needed the surgery to correct his back problem. He had been diagnosed with spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal, which places pressure on the spinal cord.
The group of UCLA medical professors who performed Fitial’s surgery is composed of Dr. Jeffrey Wang, Dr. Robert Lee, and Dr. J. Pablo Villablanca.
Dr. Wang is the chief of the UCLA Comprehensive Spine Center. He specializes in cervical spine, lumbar spine, and degenerative disorders. His research areas include novel gene therapy and minimally invasive techniques for spinal surgery.
