The son of Manapla Mayor Lourdes Escalante and former mayor Manuel Escalante figured in a freak accident in Barangay Patag, Silay City, that caused him to break the C-5 and C-6 neck flexors of his spinal column and undergo surgery, his father said yesterday.

Stephen Escalante, 26, an athlete and chef, had just finished cooking for his friends and was leaning on the railing of a deck in a cottage owned by former Gov. Rafael Coscolluela  last Monday when it broke, causing him to fall six-feet down on his back, his father said.

He was rushed to the Pablo O. Torre Memorial Hospital in Bacolod where Dr. Philip Ko was able to realign his neck, while Dr. Juan Miguel Ignacio flew  from Manila  to operate on him Friday.

Eight titanium screws and metal plates were placed in his neck in a 5-hour operation that doctors described as successful, the former mayor added.

He said his son’s left side and his body from the waist down was still not moving, but they are hoping that with therapy, and in time, his condition will improve.

“Please help us pray for my son’s  complete recovery,” the former mayor asked.*CPG

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