Journal of a COVID-19 Survivor

On March 27, 2021 - the Mabini Society for Nationhood missed one of its Key-Note Speakers in their first Virtual Fellowship. VR Samuel Fernandez was not feeling well as relayed by Ateng Erlinda his spouse. A few days later, after inquiring about their well-being, Mommy Linda informed the Cable Tow Team, “Me and Dad Sam are now confined at St. Luke’s Global City due to COVID-19. Please pray for us.” We immediately informed the Secretary of Noli Me Tangere Lodge No.42 (VR Sam’s Mother Lodge) of the condition of our beloved TCT Adviser and help mobilize fraternal support. We thank the GAOTU for the recovery of one of Philippine Masonry’s Lead Couple. VR Fernandez is a Pastor at Bishop Sobrepeña Memorial Church (BSMC). Below is a record of Mommy Linda’s Journal about their ordeal.

By Sis Erlinda Asedillo Fernandez Past Matron /Kalaw Chapter 3/ OES

• Felt flu-like symptoms, painful muscles for 2days (no fever or coughing).

• No appetite, always sleeping, LBM, loss of taste, feeling weak. Steam inhalation (occasionally).

• Rode the Barangay tricycle to the Clinic in

Mayon St. for Covid Testing (Antigen). • All three of us at home were positive. Was advised to return next day for doctor’s consultation.

• Dr. Tadie A. Abordo advised Sam & me to be confined in a hospital. • I have pneumonia already, started coughing, weakening. Sam has not been eating for one week now (throwing up whatever food he was fed), just lying down and getting weaker. • The difficult process of looking for rooms started, by then I was already exhausted due to my condition. Pahirapan pa ang paghahanap ng hospital with available rooms. • From Los Angeles, our children Ethel &

Remedy were frantically getting in touch with friends in Manila, asking for assistance in getting a Hospital Room for us. • The waiting and uncertainty were get-

ting to me. Sam at this time was just lying down sleeping, unmindful of what’s happening around him. • By 7:30 pm there was good news. Dr.

Hermogenes “Noneng” Monroy, Remedy’s friend, was able to get us a room at St.

Luke’s Global City. His wife Jane, coordinated with me until we were already at the hospital. She even provided the doctor’s name at the ER to assist us. • The next problem was transportation, how to reach St. Luke’s BGC. Many assisted us in looking. My sister Ester even got the phone of councilor Joel Villanueva in the off chance, that he might be able to lend us an ambulance. Joy Libios also worked from the BSMC asking their barangay to lend us their ambulance. Later Ester contracted an ambulance for 25,000 php; in desperation, we were willing to take that already but just then our Barangay Chairman Ramon

Trinchera was able to get us a taxi. The driver was really helpful. • We arrived at the ER about 9:00 pm. Since we were pre-booked, there was not much delay, and were readily admitted. And underwent rapid RT-PCR swab test, x-ray, blood extraction, etc. • We were then informed that the estimated cost per person is from 700k to 1M for 7 days! • Sam and I stayed overnight at ER until fol-

lowing morning when we were transferred to our rooms. The supposed to be room assigned to us (one room for both of us) was no longer available so we had to take 2 separate rooms.

• We were able to attend BSMC zoom worship service @ 6pm. • My cough was getting worse, hinihingal na ako. It takes an effort to move, to talk, but I had to go to Sam to see how he was doing. • My siblings were all supportive all these time. Buying what we needed and sending to the hospital, giving advice, etc. • Meanwhile, Ethel created an account at gofundme.com to raise funds for our hospital bills. • Contributions / donations poured in from relatives, brethren, and friends both here and abroad, some I haven’t been in touch with for a long time, some I haven’t even met but God touched their hearts. By word of mouth, our situation was circulated in

Lodges and the Brethren responded positively. I have assigned my sister, Ester, to receive/manage the monies on my behalf since I cannot do it • Sam had high fever, tremor of right hand, given dextrose, heart monitoring • Sam feels he’s not getting any better. I am trying to conserve energy.

• Sam’s blood-sugar is fluctuating, it can shoot up to 257. He doesn’t like the taste of hospital food and would just eat fruits.

Sam getting better, was able to sit in bed and eat a little.

• Sam improving no longer in IV but still under supplemental oxygen. Able to eat all by himself. • I am still coughing (hinihingal). I will be alright if I could just rest a little bit longer.

• Attended BSMC zoom Easter Service at 10:00 a.m. • My cough got better after 5 - 6 days. Sam doesn’t want to eat again. Blood Sugar is low at 70

• After much urging Sam was able to eat, praise the Lord!

• Sam is better now, began to eat a little. Sugar is 117, oxygen level and heart rate being monitored, with IV again. Happy to be able to talk to Toby (apo) from L.A. Consumed his champorado (for the first time) • Doctor said my lungs are ok, malinis na daw – just a little coughing. Scheduled for blood tests and x-ray again tomorrow.

• Visited by Dr. Rudy Pagkatipunan, pulmonologist. Sam proudly showed his x-ray results “Look, malinis na, wala nang sabit”.

• Was advised by Dr. Guansing, one of the doctors, that I may go home today, but Sam still has to wait for the result of his blood tests and x-ray (again today) Sam complained: “They are feasting on me!” First time to experience so many injections in the hospital. • My release papers were still being processed at finance, finally done at about 5pm. Requested that I be allowed to stay in

Sam’s room, so that I can release my room, allowed after I signed some forms, since

I am a Covid patient and so is my spouse (senior care givers are not usually allowed). • Sus, ayaw na naman kumain ng pasyente ko, nakakaloka!

• Sam was given the go signal to go home, although nakakabit pa rin ang supplementary oxygen and IV (inuubos lang hanggang sa makaalis kami). • Visited by Dr. Paul Estrella (a brother mason with medical practice at St. Luke’s

BGC). • Release papers were processed from morning till night; they had to re-compute it to

“severe” classification which would give bigger PhilHealth Discount. • Brethren helped in locating an ambulance for our home trip (ambulance as required by hospital), later on I informed Bro.

Lheng Ocuaman of IMES that we will just use hospital ambulance as there is no way of knowing what time we can go home. • Now Sam was so impatient to go home, said he had to so he can eat. • Finally left the hospital around 11:30 via hospital’s ambulance; arrived home 12:00 midnight.

• With appetite returning we’re getting stronger. Slept the whole time.

• End of our quarantine

All 3 of us at home tested positive, but only 2 needed to be hospitalized; one was asymptomatic and stayed quarantined at home, she also took care of our needs and requirements We were given two separate rooms instead of one as requested. By God’s Grace, the two rooms assigned to us were adjacent to each other, so it was easier for me to go to Sam’s room (patients were not supposed to go out of their room). My daughter, Ethel, opened “GoFundMe” to raise funds for our hospitalization; told me to just concentrate on getting well, that life is more precious. God touched the hearts of so many people that blessings came pouring in from family, relatives, Brother Masons, and OES brethren and sisters, friends, friends of my siblings, the congregation of my brother-in-law in New York, from people we haven’t even met, etc. So many people responded to the call. God bless them all! Brethren were constantly in touch, reaching out to us, offering their assistance. I was thankful that I had Covid-19 together with Sam otherwise nobody would have taken care of him; meals were left in his room, but he was unable to feed himself, he was too listless (during the time he was sick), he was given powdered milk at breakfast, but he doesn’t even know how to use the electric kettle to heat water. It was providential that we had 2 separate rooms because I was able to rest in my room undisturbed after tending to Sam which was a struggle for me.

We prayed for healing but aside from that, also prayed that the hospital and doctors will not charge us too much. Hospital bill for both of us was a little less than a million. But with the Senior Citizen discount and PhilHealth, the final bill was considerably lower.

Aside from my daughter Ethel and husband Remedy, my main support group are my siblings, and my Pastor, the Rev. Maricel Osias. Thank you so much!

Intense relief when informed that we can

go home.

Just this morning, May 1, Sam claimed he is now OK. Only problem is his hoarse voice. Praise God!

It has been three weeks now since we were released from the hospital. Sam lost his voice; it is still hoarse. We can only pray that he will regain it together with his vigor.

Even after our quarantine we remained in our bedroom for about 5 days, the experience was such that we were apprehensive to step out, so traumatic. Until now, Sam couldn’t recall details of what happened that day (March 31); he was already mindless of what’s happening around him, just lying down and sleeping. He couldn’t recall also how he was able to go up our bedroom when we arrived from the hospital.

Sam’s voice is still hoarse, effect of Covid-19; he is still in the “recuperating” stage, weak but little by little trying to do routine work. We didn’t know how many were in similar situation as ours because nobody was allowed outside their rooms. I think the whole 10th floor was full. When asked, a nurse said one nurse handles at least 5 patients.

The nurses visit us only when they had to administer medicines; they were just monitoring us through the CCTV. When called, we’re lucky if they come within 30 minutes. Was not able to monitor the meds given to us: Injections to prevent blood clotting, meds for cough, antibiotics, immune meds, etc. Our Message to the Brethren: Life is precious. Take care of it.

To God Be the Glory!