“Occupying six seats at the expense of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Leonora Aquino left the Kingdom on Aug. 10 on a Saudia flight to the Philippines,” said Exmundo.

Exmundo and Leonora’s husband, Tony, accompanied her.

Cushing’s Syndrome is normally caused by abnormally high level of cortisol, a steroid hormone that helps the body react to physical and emotional stress.

“She was very weak and looked like she was ready to go. The doctors at a hospital in Taif where she was confined for two months and where her husband works thought she had slim chance of survival. But now, she’s in Cebu where she comes from,” Exmundo told Arab News.

Exmundo said that upon arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, an OWWA ambulance was waiting for Leonora, who was brought to the South Super Highway Hospital in Paranaque. She was transferred to Cebu on Tuesday.

Exmundo said that Aquino had just arrived back from vacation in the Philippines when “she suffered a cardiac arrest due to low potassium because her adrenaline gland was not working properly. She had diabetes too.”

Tony sought the help of the Saudi Labor office in Taif, which tracked down Leonora’s sponsor. Initially the sponsor was hesitant to appear before the local Labor Office. Consul General Ezzedin H. Tago became involved and the case was referred to POLO under Labor Attache Vicente Cabe. “We approached the Governor’s Office in Taif. The governor’s secretary issued a letter to the Saudi Labor Office that ordered the sponsor to show up. Finally, an exit visa was issued,” Exmundo said.