Actress Iza Calzado was among the first celebrities who tested positive for COVID-19. A year after surviving the infectious disease, she couldn't be more thankful for another life.
On Instagram, Iza can't help but feel emotional remembering what she went through.
"It was exactly a year ago when I was discharged from the hospital after 11 days of fighting this deadly virus we are now very much familiar with — Covid 19," she shared. "Now I am exactly where I wished I could be at that time and that is home. Perhaps it is why I can’t even complain about being home. I do know that I am privileged to even have a home and food on the table and I acknowledge that it is something not everyone has, but should."
She added: "However, if you are reading this, that means you are alive and that in itself is a gift. I know that so many of us are struggling, it could be physically, mentally, spiritually, financially maybe even all at the same time but what I want to say is please fight to survive. You have been given an opportunity to live when so many have lost this chance. I hope you find something to be grateful for no matter how small it is. May you also find something to live for and fight for just like I did when I was in the hospital and now that I am home."
According to her, she's especially grateful for the frontliners who took care of her; for the love and prayers that people sent her way at a time when she needed it most.
Iza also said that she's "very grateful" for her loved ones who supported her through difficult moments and reminded her to see the silver lining in the situations.
"All of this would not be possible without God’s mercy and grace so I am most grateful for Him," she added.
"I don’t know what lies ahead. Yes, there is so much uncertainty and anxiety, but I recognize that every breath is a blessing and for as long as I have this gift I will continue to fight to survive and, yes, thrive. I pray you do too. Love and Light, always!"