Cardinal Vidal recovering from possible blood infection

Retired Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal is now recovering from a semi-comatose after he was rushed to the hospital early Wednesday morning.

One of Vidal's doctors Dr. Rene Josef Bullecer told GMA News Online on Friday that the 86-year-old prelate is already "past the most critical" stage and is under close observation and monitoring at the Perpetual Succour Hospital in Cebu City.

"He was rushed to the hospital because he was having difficulty in breathing," Bullecer said.

Doctors have yet to finalize what caused him to go into a semi-vegetative state, but initial diagnosis indicated he was suffering from a blood infection.

"There's nothing wrong with his heart. What happened to him is just because he is recovering from infection sa kaniyang dugo. So, sa awa ng Diyos, naagapan na. He was given all the appropriate anti-biotics," Bullecer said.

"Wala siyang problema sa lungs. No pneumonia, no problem with the heart, no problem with the kidneys, sa blood na lang," he added.

Vidal continues to be on a breathing apparatus as of this posting, but Bullecer said he started to show signs of recovery on Friday morning.

"He started opening his eyes, he is already responsive to pain... which (was) totally absent as of Wednesday," he said.

Vidal served as the archbishop of Cebu for 29 years until he retired in 2011.

Bullecer asked the clergy and the faithful to continue praying for the recovery of the country's most senior cardinal. — MDM, GMA News