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COVID-19: Heartbreaking Stories Show How Pinoys Struggle With Full-Capacity Hospitals

Over a year into the pandemic and we’re still struggling to take control of everything. NCR+ is under ECQ but the numbers are shooting up. Just last March 31, the Philippines reported an all-time high record of 15,310 new cases. But what’s most heartbreaking and scariest of all is that almost every hospital in NCR has reached its full capacity for patients. Those who show up at emergency rooms are turned down since there are almost no beds available.

These stories remind us that we shouldn’t look at the COVID statistics as mere numbers. Each number represents a human life either suffering from the complications or succumbing to the virus. These stories show that we need a stronger healthcare system and better support for our frontliners, and remind us that we should always be vigilant.

 

This son who drove his ill father to 11 different hospitals

Melchie Garcia recounted how he drove his COVID-positive father from their home in Novaliches, Quezon City to San Fernando, Pampanga. They were looking for a hospital and everywhere was full. “Sabi ko, ‘Pa, lumaban ka. Kahit makarating tayong Batangas, Laguna, makahanap lang tayo ospital,” Garcia said in an interview.

The Garcia family tried calling hotlines for COVID-19 care and other hospitals while on the road. The answer was always either the facility was full or they had to line up for a bed vacancy. They eventually found a hospital in Valenzuela City but they had to wait for 12 hours before his father was admitted.

 


Patients are rejected


Here’s another alarming look at NCR hospitals reaching their capacity. This short tweet thread by Twitter user @SZxlr8 narrated how his wife was rejected by every hospital they went to including St. Lukes Medical Center and Lung Center of the Philippines. Eventually, they got accepted at World Citi Medical Center in Quezon City. But by then it was too late. His wife succumbed to the virus.

 

A cunning virus


Everything seemed fine with former lawmaker Miro Quimbo’s Aunt Susan. She didn’t seem to have any symptoms of the coronavirus. But when one of her children noticed she began taking naps in the afternoon (something she never did before) and snoring, they had her take a swab test. Turns out Quimbo’s aunt is positive for the virus. By then, her oxygen level was down to 50, the normal level for humans is 95. His aunt was intubated but two days later, she passed away.

 

LGU response

Facebook user GM Mendiola shared how his family lost their patriarch over the slow LGU response which resulted in critical mistakes. They had to wait over 30 minutes for the officials to locate their home even though Mendiola gave them all the details. When the LGU officials got there with an oxygen tank, his father was already unresponsive.

“Nung makarating naman sa bahay, wala nang malay ang Papa, walang gusto magsakay sa ambulansya dahil walang capable, walang willing at mga walang PPE,” he wrote on Facebook. His story brought to light the lack of basic medical training for LGU personnel and sparse equipment for every barangay.

 


Even the doctors feel the desperation

About two weeks ago, Claro Antonio took to Facebook to sketch a scenario that healthcare workers everywhere are quickly getting familiar with. In the conversation, the nurse on duty informed Antonio that Remdesivir and Tocilizumab, drugs used to treat COVID-19 patients, are out of stock. The hospital also has a low supply of oxygen and mechanical ventilation. The sad exchange paints a picture of what our front liners and, in turn, the rest of the Filipinos riddled with the virus, have to face.

 

Claire dela Fuente passes away at 63


Singer and Philippine icon Clair de la Fuente passed away due to a heart attack “believed to be a result of her stress and anxiety” last March 30. Days prior, she tested positive for the virus. Claire spent two nights in a tent outside Las Piñas Doctors Hospital waiting to be admitted. Her son, Gigo de Guzman said there was no more room. Relatives found her a room at another hospital but when she was transferred, it was too late. She passed away at the hospital’s emergency room.

 

Forced to camp outside the ER

Angelo Barrera, a game developer, told one of the most heartbreaking stories of losing a loved one to the virus. He narrated on Twitter how ten days after his father tested positive, his condition got worse. The Barrera family drove from hospital to hospital to no avail.

“every. single. hospital. every one of them, was full. be it admission, ER, even the waitlist for the ER. every single one was full. you name it, from Asian Hospital to St. Luke’s,” Barrera said. “none of the hospitals agreed to refill his oxygen tank.” Eventually, they got a slot at Asian Hospital but there were two patients ahead of them in line for the ICU.

Barerra’s father couldn’t even get in the ER since it was still full. He was hooked up to an oxygen tank and placed on a stretcher outside. He flatlined outside the ER.

It’s the same heartbreaking story everywhere. Hospitals full, patients having to drive everywhere or wait outside only for their conditions to get worse. This COVID-positive senior citizen also had to wait outside an emergency room to be admitted. And just like Barrera’s father, he too passed away from lack of medical attention.

 

A dire warning


All these stories emphasize the danger we’re in. We’ve got soaring cases, hospitals at full capacity, and a low supply of medicines and equipment for COVID treatment. Add that to the fact that our frontliners and healthcare workers are working to the bone to do whatever they can. It’s going to be a bleak couple of months ahead for sure.

We can do our part in making sure we and our loved ones are as safe as possible. Observe strict sanitary measures and avoid leaving your home for non-essential purposes. Wear your face masks and face shields outside. Wash your hands with soap for 20 seconds. Keep your distance from people. If you’ve got access to the vaccine, take it. Take every precaution because it looks like this wave is going to last for a while.

 

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Kyzia spends most of her time capturing the world around her through photos, paragraphs, and playlists. She is constantly on the hunt for the perfect chocolate chip cookie, and a great paperback thriller to pair with it.

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