Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 23) — A doctor who contracted the coronavirus disease shared her story—from thinking it was simply a mosquito-borne disease, to spending her birthday quarantined in her room, infected with the fatal virus.
“Hindi ko akalaing tatamaan ako agad. Nagsisimula pa lang ang gyera nun, casualty na ako,” said Dr. Grace Caras-Torres, who identified herself as patient no. 194, in a Facebook post Monday.
[Translation: I didn’t think I would be infected that early. The war was just starting then, and I was already a casualty.]
At first, the doctor suspected it was chikungunya, a viral disease transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes.
However, she said her symptoms became progressively worse, as she came down with recurring high-grade fevers, as well as headache and body pains.
“Saka lang nag-sink in sakin na posibleng Covid nga ito nung malaman kong may symptoms din yung kasama kong mag-opera ilang araw nang nakalipas [Translation: The possibility of being positive for COVID-19 hit me when I learned that my colleagues in the hospital also started exhibiting symptoms even days before],” she wrote, adding that her first thought following this realization had been her family.
“Ang anak kong 4-year-old, ang parents kong seniors. Inexpose ko sila, ang iyak ko noon.” [Translation: My child who is 4-year-old, my parents who are senior citizens. ‘I exposed them [to the virus],’ I cried.]
In an effort to protect her family members from the virus, Caras-Torres quarantined herself in her bedroom, where she eventually spent her 42nd birthday alone.
She added that her colleagues who were also infected already required intubation, while four have already died.
“Akala ko pagaling na ako, bigla akong nagtae. Sabi sa Wuhan, pag nagkaroon ng GI symptoms, tuluy-tuloy nang pumapangit ang kundisyon,” she added.
[Translation: I thought I was recovering, but then I began experiencing diarrhea. In Wuhan, they said once you experience gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, that’s when your condition worsens.]
“Ngayon lang ako natakot. Napaiyak ako. Hindi pa ako handang mamatay.”
[Translation: That’s when I got scared. I couldn’t help but cry. I am not yet ready to die.]
The doctor said that beyond the viral disease taking a toll on her physical health, she also had to battle with its accompanying emotional and mental impact. She added that it is important that people check in on each other, especially those who are sick and in quarantine, at a time like this.
“Sana matapos na ito. Sana gumaling na kami. Sana wala nang mamatay. Miss na miss ko na ang anak ko. Ngunit salamat pa din sa lahat ng taong tumulong at nangamusta. Too many to mention. Mahal ko kayo. At Dyos ko, maraming salamat po at buhay pa ako at ok ang pamilya ko.”
[Translation: I am hoping this will end. I hope we recover soon. I hope no other person dies from this. I miss my child so much. But thank you, still, to everyone who offered help and checked in on me. Too many to mention. I love you all. And God, thank you very much that I’m still alive and that my family is ok.]
Earlier, the Philippine Heart Association announced the death of a young cardiologist who contracted COVID-19 “while fulfilling his duties as a doctor.”
As of March 23, health authorities have confirmed 462 cases of the viral disease in the country, which have since claimed the lives of 33. A total of 18 patients have meanwhile recovered.
