Almira Alpuerto Tagala-Manuel was given the gift of life on June 17, 1982 in Manila, Philippines.
She was born to Honorato “Jun” Totanes of Paracale, Camarines Norte and Vinia Libranda Alpuerto-Tagala of Gumaca, Quezon.
On June 24 at 10:33 AM, she had to give this gift back to her creator…
Almira, who just turned 37, passed peacefully at the Johns Hopkins Hospital's Neurosciences Critical Care Unit (NCCU) surrounded by loved ones including the love of her life, her husband Joshua ”Macoy” Manuel.
Her brother, Adonis “Don” Alpuerto Tagala, held her hand gently until her last breath.
Sepsis ravaged her blood.
But her last breath was beautiful, just like her.
Her laughter, was infectious.
Her sweet smile, was enough to make your day.
Her hugs, were all is needed to take all the blues away.
EVEN IN DEATH, SHE BROUGHT US TOGETHER.
Almira will always be remembered for bringing people together, may it be a simple lunch or dinner with friends and Family.
Her closest friends stood by her until the very end: Marwin, Olive, Nina, Roel, Crista, Dindin, and Marnex.
Her friends and family from different parts of the world came together, one last time, to shower Almira with their love and prayers
Almira was a proud Mascian and UP Maroon. A scholarship at Manila Science put her through High School. While the premier University of the Philippines provided her with the education to become a physical therapist.
Almira and Macoy came to Jersey City, New Jersey around December of 2016.
She moved to Maryland to chase her dream job as Physical Therapist.
As a physical therapist she has seen countless patients with neurological conditions such as ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, heart attacks etc.
With a big smile on her face, Almira welcomes patients with challenging health conditions that limit their ability to move and perform everyday activities.
For Almira, even the slightest improvement in each of her patient's physical function and mobility, means it is a step towards promoting their overall wellness and they are getting better.
She took on such challenge and made a big difference in making the lives of her patients better.
EVEN IN DEATH, SHE MAY HAVE HELPED OTHERS GET A FIGHTING CHANCE AT LIVING.
On Tuesday May 28th, Almira suffered a hemorrhagic stroke due to Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis (CVST) - A massive blood clot that formed in the sagittal sinus of her brain that hemorrhaged into the surrounding brain tissues after the veins could no longer hold itself after it was clogged by a clot.
In saving her life, a team of Johns Hopkins neurological specialists possibly may have made a historic breakthrough by improvising and enhancing the current procedure of removing blood clots in the brain stroke patients.
Led by Dr. Jose Suarez, the plan was, if all conditions were met – the neurosurgeons would carry out a technique that has never been done before for this particular procedure called Balloon Venoplasty with Aspiration Thrombectomy (BVAT).
The standard procedure is thrombectomy (a type of surgery to remove blood clot from artery or vein) – but the medical team decided to use an unconventional method of using a balloon catheter, used commonly in heart surgeries, inserted through jugular vein to force the clot out. It was never been done before in brain surgery.
Venoplasty is a procedure used to open clogged veins by threading a balloon into the veins and inflated to open a narrowed or obstructed blood vessel.
Hemorrhagic stroke accounts for about 20% of all strokes according to Harvard Medical School and 30% to 60% of those who had hemorrhagic stroke die.
But Almira survived, albeit temporary… Thanks to the Johns Hopkins Medical team.
Dr Gailloud, the interventional neuroradiologist who did the procedure confirms that as far as he knows no one has published on this procedure.
If Almira’s autopsy proves this to be true, Dr. Romer said, “this is going to be huge.”
The autopsy data may confirm that the Balloon Venoplasty with Aspiration Thrombectomy (BVAT) used to save Almira’s life at the onset of Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis (CVST) may be used to save more lives in the future.
As Almira returned her gift of life to her creator, she left us with a medical breakthrough in neurosurgery that will be always be remembered as her healing gift for humanity that could save countless more in the future.
Almira is survived by her mother, Vinia. Her Husband, Macoy and his Mom. His brother Don and Arvin.
A Celebration of Almira’s life will be held at 3:00 – 9:00 PM on Friday, June 28, 3:00 to 10:00 PM on Satruday at the Witzke Funeral Homes Inc located at 5555 Twin Knolls road Columbia, MD 21045.
Memorial donations in memory of Almira can be made through:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-almira-recover-from-hemorrhagic-stroke
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