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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PGH priest shares experience with COVID-19 positive mother who lost husband to virus

PGH priest shares experience with COVID-19 positive mother who lost husband to virus

Published Apr 29, 2021 12:15 pm

A priest from the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) shared his experience with a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) positive baby and a mother who found out her husband succumbed to the virus while she was in labor.

(Photo courtesy of Fr. Marlito Ocon)

Father Marlito Ocon, head chaplain of the PGH, said a young mother brought herself alone to the emergency room and left her husband at home because of fever and coughing, bur never considered it as COVID-19.

After delivering her baby, both tested positive for COVID-19, according to Ocon.

"While she and her baby were still fighting and struggling for life, news broke out that her husband died of Covid at home," the priest wrote on Facebook.

Ocon said he listened to the mother's story: "Ang lungkot Father, wala na akong asawa mauwian, abo na ang asawa ko, di man lang kami nagkausap, di ko man lang maibalita na may baby na kami, di man lang sila nagkita ng anak namin (It's so sad Father, I no longer have a husband to go home to, he's already in ashes, we haven't even talked, I can't even tell him that we already have our second baby. He hasn't even seen our newborn yet)."

He added that he was left speechless after learning about the mother's experience.

"I have no words because I know that any word/s can't explain enough why horrible things like this happened," Ocon said.

"But I realized that it is in our deep, deep silence and it is when we run out of words, and when theology can't explain enough, that our faith can speak louder. Be strong, and keep your faith together!"

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COVID-19 pandemic covid-19 Philippine General Hospital PGH
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