Experience: We Survived COVID-19
 |
| Thanks to God, we're all vaccinated! (Taken on different dates. Consolidated photos) |
There’s a lot of reasons to be GRATEful for.
Before proceeding, on behalf of our family, we are thankful to all people who are generous enough to provide and help us with our essential needs. We are also thankful to Makati City LGU for taking care of its Makatizens who have contracted COVID-19, and to our company clinic for attending me all the time.
In this story...
- My whole family got a mild case of COVID-19
- I almost got a moderate COVID-19 case since I only had the first jab of the vaccine
- Blessings rushed in from friends and relatives
- We encourage everyone to get vaccinated
A little storytime: my dad was the first to feel the early symptoms—runny nose, dry cough, and loss of smell and taste. August 18, Wednesday, I started feeling unwell and was suspected to have also contracted COVID-19.
 |
| "Stage 2" perfectly described what I felt. (Screenshot excerpt from LAT times) |
Around August 18, at 2:30 AM, I developed a dry cough and started gasping for air. My mom manifested early symptoms such as dizziness but I downplayed the situation thinking it could be the effect of staying up till the wee hours. Until late morning, the typical samid got worse prompting me to reach out to Makati emergency services thru the Makatizen app (an app for Makati City residents).
We were referred to Makati City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (Makati CESU) to monitor our situation. Due to the overwhelming number of inquiries (which we understand), we got swabbed two days after (thankfully, for free thru Makati Yellow Card Health Program). That was Friday, August 20—my Dad's birthday.
After 4 days, on August 24, our RT-PCR results came in and were confirmed thru a phone call that our entire family is COVID-19 positive to which I still denied so I asked for a copy of the documents. Unfortunately, we really contracted the virus.
 |
| I disclosed the result to our close contacts as soon as I got hold of this document. We also practiced precautionary measures the moment our symptoms began to show up. |
It is my first time seeing a POSITIVE result after taking several COVID-19 RT-PCR and antigen tests in the past as part of our company's protocol prior to working on-site.
After assessing our apartment over a phone call, CESU advised sending my dad to a quarantine facility right away. I and my mom chose to stay since our home has enough room to isolate two people.
As soon as the news broke out to our close relatives and friends, blessings rushed in. I am so overwhelmed by the love and care of God through my dad’s colleagues. They sent out these sets of groceries. We also received a care kit from Makati LGU.
 |
| Thank you to my dad's colleagues for all of these groceries and supplies. |
 |
| The "Home Care Kit" given by the Makati City Local Government Unit to all constituents who are quarantined due to COVID-19. |
It's a good thing that we are vaccinated and fortunately, our case is mild. I'm close to being a moderate case because of low blood oxygen but it was able to back up. On the other hand, my parents are fully vaccinated, while I'm yet to receive my second dose of vaccine at that time. (UPDATE: I received my second dose last September 7, 2021.)
It's a good thing that we are vaccinated and fortunately, our case is mild
We had to undergo a 14-day quarantine. While my dad is in the quarantine facility, he was regularly checked by Makati City LGU's on-site healthcare workers and volunteer doctors and nurses from a religious organization with whom my dad is affiliated. I and my mom are taking meds and are also regularly checked by Makati CESU staff and our resident company nurse.
As much as I want to live normally, I choose to work with minimal tasks because I don't want to be idle for the whole quarantine period.
So yeah, to all of the healthcare workers, which often are unnamed, WE OWE YOU A LOT. A big THANK YOU for your service.
 |
| I am still working from home, monitoring the live Twitter feed. :) |
 |
| Initially I was hesitant to get a jab from Sinovac, not until I watched this documentary from CNA about the efficacy and the technology used by Coronovac-Sinovac. (JR Grate photos) |
