SURVIVOR’S TALE
(Joseph Pedrajas, MB reporter, has covered various beats, including police, politics, and the legislative, for the Manila Bulletin. He loves to go to places for adventure.)
My March 2021 trip to Boracay Island would have been only a two-week vacation but turned out to be a month-long stay in Aklan province. It wasn’t because I enjoyed its pristine beach so much that I decided to stay, but because I tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and had to be quarantined.
Until now, I don't know where I got infected. At the airport, the restaurants we dined at? But, one thing for sure was that when I left Manila, I was negative for the virus because we did not go out after our swab test — a requirement for entry to the island.
The whole experience gave me a roller coaster ride of emotion. One day, I was enjoying the white sand, the sunset, the tranquility of island life, and the sea foods. A day later, I was in the hospital, a dextrose needle in my hand and an oxygen mask on my face.
It was our ninth day on the island when I noticed that I didn’t smell the soap when I bathed, and I lost my sense of taste. I also experienced dyspnea or shortness of breath, and had breathing difficulties. I couldn't sleep that night. At 1 a.m., I asked my partner to call the hotel reception desk to bring me to the hospital. It was the first hospital admission in my life.
From Boracay Island, we took a 15-minute boat ride and a two-hour land travel to reach the isolation facility in Kalibo. I was admitted in the hospital, while my partner, in a quarantine facility.
Everything then turned worse. I could not sleep until 5 a.m. which I later found out was caused by the medications I was given. I had night sweats — my back and the bed I was sleeping on was wet although the room was very cold. I was very, very anxious. Would I survive? How's my partner doing in the quarantine facility? We were separated, so I worried not only about my condition but also about my companion’s.
I asked the doctors if my condition would turn fatal. It gave me relief when they said no. I might have caught a "little" pneumonia, but I'm still young and I could handle it.
Three days later, I was finally discharged. I was then transferred to a quarantine facility to finish my isolation. Luckily, I have first-degree relatives, who I never met until then, living nearby.
My parents, who were in Manila and couldn’t even fly due to another lockdown that time, had called them about my condition.
My relatives immediately contacted me to ask how I was. They brought me healthy food — the typical Visayan meals packed with various vegetables, and vitamins. They even brought me new clothes because most of my clothes were either dirty or wet.
On our 14th day of isolation, we were discharged. It should have been only a 10-day quarantine period but it was extended to comply with the protocols of a visitor since I had asked if I could see my relatives in Kalibo.
At last, I met my relatives who had been so kind to me while I was in the hospital. However, I was very careful to follow health and safety protocols so as not to infect them. So we did not stay with them but in a hotel.
One thing I learned from my experience is the unconditional concern and help that my relatives have for me, a stranger then. They were all ready to help me and gave me their attention, time and essential things. Even if they had not met me yet.
With the pandemic, I didn’t know how my relatives were doing at that time. Nevertheless, they willingly lent a hand, treating me as one of them. They brought me food, clothes, medicines and other necessities without asking or expecting anything.
They even told me: “Sabihin mo lang kapag may kailangan ka pa (Just tell us if you need anything else).”
“Dapat sinabi mo, sana napaglutuan ka namin ng pagkain (You should have told us that you craved something, so we would cook for you).” Their help came in many forms. Once, my cousin had to stand in line for several hours in the laboratory and in the hospital because he had to take one of my blood samples for a test. He has kids, but he didn’t fear the possibility of getting infected just to help me.
My COVID-19 battle would have been more fearful without their assistance. I owe my relatives a lot. In times of crisis, you will know the people who really care for you. Our fight against COVID-19 is difficult at this time but it brings out the goodness and the compassion in all of us.