Abet surgery an ‘apparent success’
MOMENTS after husband Abet Guidaben’s open chest surgery at the University Medical Center last Oct. 14, wife Maridol was on the phone to report that the operation “was an apparent success.” Maridol told Ruffy Ignacio, secretary-general of the PBA Legends Foundation USA, that the delicate procedure took all of four hours, starting at 3:30 in the afternoon, lasting up to 7:30 in the evening.
Still heavy with anaesthetic, Abet was still sleeping while Maridol was talking with Ruffy on the phone. He was not expected to be fully awake until the following day.
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The surgeons had removed Abet’s thymus, a gland situated inside the chest near the heart, in an effort to check the progress of the disease called Myasthenia Gravis. The doctors also removed a tumor the size of a golf ball, which they found lodged in his breast.
Maridol herself had undergone a hip replacement operation some weeks back and was confined to a wheelchair when she left the hospital. Unable to take care of her husband who was already suffering the debilitating symptoms of Myasthenia Gravis, Maridol must have felt gravely frustrated at the time.
I requested both Ruffy and Abe King for regular updates on both Abet and Maridol’s condition. Meantime, the Guidaben family wishes to extend their utmost gratitude “to all the wonderful people who continue to pray for Abet’s recovery.”
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The update on Guidaben’s condition was e-mailed by PBA Legends Foundation USA chair Abe King who was recently in Manila to present donations on behalf of the foundation.
Abe said his last visit was most meaningful and fulfilling because he had the chance to have a reunion with RP-based fellow-PBA legends like Manny Paner, Atoy Co, Vergel Meneses, Bogs Adornado, Chito Loyzaga and Allan Caidic and most especially his former coach, The Maestro Baby Dalupan.
Although almost completely blind in both eyes, Baby musters all his strength to attend the PBA Press Corps Awards night every year.
The major award for the association’s best coach of the year is named after Baby, who, to this day, remains the winningest coach of the PBA.
Abe was under Baby when Presto won a championship almost two decades ago. If I remember correctly, the two reunited at Purefoods in the early ’90s.
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Abe was a bit disheartened when he sat on the same table with The Maestro for some minutes and yet his former coach had ignored him. There was absolutely no sign of recognition from Baby.
It took awhile before Abe realized that Baby could hardly see him.
“All I see are shadows and silhouettes moving,” said Baby, whose mind remains as sharp as it had been thirty years ago.
Once he identifies the person he is talking with, Baby could talk at length about the past, which he distinctly remembers. Unless you identify yourself, however, he will not recognize you or your voice.
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I was in the same table with Baby and Abe, but I deliberately did not approach him to introduce myself. I waited, thinking that he might be able to recognize my voice.
He never did. When the proceedings were coming to an end, I decided to approach the Maestro to identify myself. He was always happy to “see” me and that night was no exception.
Abe had sat beside Baby in the same table reminiscing about the good old days with Presto and Purefoods, the last team Abe played for and also the last team Baby coached.
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