Last week, feisty talent manager Annabelle Rama underwent a critical operation. Her uterus was removed because of myoma. In an update given by her son Raymond Gutierrez, the Showbiz Central host said that his mom checked out of the Asian Hospital last Saturday, November 23.
"Now, of course, we're praying for her speedy recovery," Raymond said. "Nando'n siya sa bahay. Actually, nakakatawa, nando'n 'yong bedroom niya sa second floor. Pero since she doesn't wanna go upstairs muna, nag-set up siya ng makeshift bedroom niya doon sa living room namin."
According to Annabelle's doctor, Dr. Aina Sales-Diaz, Annabelle had a "severe dysplasia [of the cervix]." In a taped interview, the surgeon said, "'Yon ay isang klase ng sakit ng babae na kung saan naaapektuhan 'yong [parte] ng matres, which we call the cervix. If not, kapag napabayaan, magiging cancerous ito."
In an exclusive interview with Showbiz Central before she checked out—which was aired yesterday, November 23—Annabelle recalled how she felt before she entered the operating room.
"Hindi ako makatulog talaga," she started narrating. "Dasal ako nang dasal sa Sto. Niño ko. The next day, in-announce sa amin ng doktora, nandito kaming lahat ng buong pamilya ko, palakpakan kaming lahat na walang cancer, tuwang-tuwa ako. For ten years ko tinitiis ang aking dinadala sa loob ng tiyan ko, natanggal na ng safe, wala nang masamang ano..."
Annabelle said that even her brother, who is a surgeon, advised her to undergo an operation to avoid it from becoming cancerous. "Pumunta kami Bangkok [Thailand] ni Eddie, sinabi sa akin na, ano, masama na ang lagay, kailangang tanggalin na. E, ang sabi ng brother ko, ang brother ko kasi is surgeon siya, ‘Kailangan tanggalin na 'yan, kasi yung result mo papunta ng cancer kaya natakot na ako."
Despite this advice, Annabelle still took time before she finally decided to be operated on.
"Lahat sila nag-convince na sa akin na magpa-opera na," said Annabelle. "Ayoko nga kasi takot nga ako sa operasyon, takot akong mamatay. Hindi ko alam, mamaya nasa gitna ako ng mesa, hindi na ako magising. Lahat ng klaseng takot nagdaan na sa utak ko. Matagal ang desisyon ko rin kung papaopera ako o hindi. Last minute nga, gusto kong mag-check out."
Then, before the surgery, the Gutierrez matriarch became very emotional and even left a message for her sons and daughter.
She told Showbiz Central, "Actually, bago [ako] pumuntang operating room, lahat talaga may message. Sabi ko, ‘Alagaan mo 'yong daddy mo, mamaya hindi na ako magising.' Sabi ko, ‘Raymond, pakabait ka ha?' Kay Richard naman sabi ko, ‘Concentrate on your career. Bago ka magbitaw ng pera mo sa ibang tao, mag-isip ka nang mabuti.' Lahat talaga... Sabi ko kasi baka mamaya, hindi na ako magising. Malay ko naman talaga."
Through this ordeal, Annabelle saw the love and care of her husband Eddie Gutierrez, who underwent angioplasty recently.
"Sa asawa ko," Annabelle said, "maraming-maraming salamat. At least, habang nasa ospital ako, nagtiyaga ka sa pagbabantay sa akin. At least, napatunayan ko ngayon na mahal na mahal mo ako, supersweet.
"Bagong buhay siya, bagong buhay din ako. Kaya I don't think na mayroon pang makakapaghiwalay sa amin. Kaya hanggang sa pagtanda, kaming dalawa, kami pa rin."
She also had a message for her children and friends who supported and prayed for her. "Lahat kayo, mga anak ko, maraming salamat," she said. "Naiiyak na naman ako kapag tungkol sa ano, e... Kaya maraming-maraming salamat. Naramdaman ko rin na mahal rin ako ni Tonton at saka ni Monching kasi palagi silang nandiyan. Kaya sa lahat ng nagmamahal sa akin, sa lahat ng kaibigan ko, walang tigil sa pagdadasal, maraming-maraming salamat."
Annabelle was referring to stepsons Tonton Gutierrez and Ramon Christopher. Tonton is Eddie's son with Liza Lorena while Monching is the veteran actor's child with Pilita Corrales.
In a separate interview, Richard Gutierrez expressed his gratitude to his parents. Annabelle and Eddie admitted that he was the one who shouldered most of the financial needs of their operations.
Richard explained, "'Yong ginagawa sa akin ng parents ko, hindi ko naman alam kung paano ko mare-repay 'yon, e, kung paano nila ako pinalaki. Wala ako sa posisyon ko ngayon kung hindi dahil sa magulang ko. In every way I can, I give back to them as much as possible. I give them my time and everything that I have because I owe that to them."