Dolphy undergoes dialysis, opens eyes for first time –Eric Quizon

Veteran actor-comedian Dolphy underwent dialysis on Thursday and opened his eyes for the first time in three or four days while undergoing the procedure, his son Eric Quizon said.   The ailing icon of Philippine movies underwent dialysis to help cleanse Dolphy’s body of excess fluids and toxins and support his kidney functions.   It was “during dialysis” when he opened his eyes, Quizon noted in a text message to GMA News Online.   “Somehow nagmulat ang kanyang mata for a while at tumingin siya sa paligid. Siyempre natuwa ang mga kapatid ko, kaming lahat dahil alam naming na nadidinig niya kami ng time na yun and I knew he was trying to communicate with us,” said Quizon during a press conference at the Makati Medical Center.   His brother Junior and sisters Sally and Donna were the first ones to see their father’s eyes open.   “Tamang tama, yun na… Kumakatok ako dun sa salamin at sinabi ng kapatid ko na [nakamulat si Daddy]. So pumasok na ako sa loob, pumasok si Vandolph, pumasok si Epi,” he said, referring to his other siblings.   “Lahat kami nagsunuran na pumasok. Pero, of course, hindi pa rin kami pwede pumasok nang sabay sabay,” he added. Susceptible to bleeding   “As of 2:40 this afternoon, we allowed our doctors to administer dialysis because that option was given to us because his vitals overnight were okay,” Quizon told reporters.   Quizon said his father’s platelet count is very low, making him susceptible to hemorrhaging.   “As of now he’s still positive for hemorrhaging, so merong bleeding sa loob… So, inaalam namin kung saan nanggagaling yung bleeding na ‘to. ‘Yan lang yung downside,’ he said, explaining that Dolphy continues to receive blood transfusions.   “Somehow nagkaroon ng hope yung family namin sa pag-a-administer ng dialysis. So nakapagdesisyon ang pamilya na ituloy lang ang dialysis kung hanggang kailan kaya,” he said.   He said that the dialysis has given their family a “glimmer of hope.”   “There’s no panic. Somehow mayroong konting katuwaan, kasiyahan, dahil nga nagkaron ng opportunity yung ilan sa mga kapatid naming na makita siya na magmulat yung mata,” Quizon said.   Dolphy’s other children are expected to arrive in Manila from abroad. Among them are Edwin and Dino, who will arrive Friday.   Also, Marikita is arriving Saturday, and Manny Boy either Saturday or Sunday.   Quizon said in a statement Wednesday that Dolphy is suffering from toxic metabolic encephalopathy, a condition that causes spasms and weakened his kidneys. —VS, GMA News