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Saab Magalona diagnosed with rare congenital condition
Saab Magalona has been diagnosed with a rare congenital condition ahead of her family vacation.
The host and content creator said in an Instagram post that four days ago, on the morning of her family’s flight to Boracay, she was “palpitating and was as white as a ghost.”
Saab said, “We chalked it up to bad acid and a panic attack.”
After checking that her blood pressure and temperature were both at normal rates, they flew to the island.
“I got dizzy when we got off the plane, again when we got off the boat, and I had to use a wheelchair after using the stairs at the hotel. I took a long nap and when I woke up, I used the toilet, vomited, and passed out," the celebrity mom and content creator narrated.
According to Saab, she blacked out and woke up to her husband Jim Bacarro “screaming for help outside the hotel door with me in his arms, my soiled pants and vomit all over my shirt.”
Fortunately, the hotel staff and Saab’s father-in-law facilitated the couple’s van ride to a nearby clinic, a late-night boat ride, and an ambulance ride to Kalibo, one and a half hours away from the main island.
Saab revealed that she was in the intensive care unit for the past few days for blood transfusions. Her mom, Pia Magalona, got in touch with the Philippine Red Cross.
Yesterday, Saab was transferred to a regular room.
She then revealed her diagnosis.
“What happened is that something (I suspect stress) triggered a rare congenital condition I have called Meckel’s Diverticulum," Saab said.
According to Healthline, Meckel’s Diverticulum is what's referred to when a person is born with the diverticulum in the intestines. It "usually develops between the fifth and seventh weeks of fetal development," Healthline said.
"In 95 percent of people with this condition, the diverticulum that develops is made up of intestinal cells. As a result, the diverticulum functions as a normal part of the intestine. This type of diverticulum may not cause any significant symptoms," it added.
Saab explained Meckel’s Diverticulum "causes internal bleeding. My hemoglobin is back to normal, vital signs have been stable for days, just waiting for clearance so we can get back to Manila and undergo surgery,” she said.
Saab added that her sons, Pancho and Vito, will be flying back to Manila today.
Before ending her post, Saab gave an important reminder: “Stay safe and listen to your bodies, everyone!”
She added, “Thank you Lord for giving me another day. For now I will relax, heal, and watch Masterchef while holding hands with my hero[.]”
This is the second time this year that Saab experienced a hiccup while traveling. In July, she was already in line in immigration when she decided to cancel her flight because her boy Pancho is sick. Back then, she also gave credit to Jim, her husband of eight years.
— Nika Roque/LA, GMA Integrated News
