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Pauline Millena got the surprise of her life, when their neighbors extended so much help to them after her mom tested positive for COVID-19. Be inspired in this heartwarming story on Family Time in this article.

It is a nightmare scenario for every family if one member tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.

This was the experience of the Millena family, who shared their recent bout against the highly-contagious disease with Family Time.

In an exclusive interview with Drew Arellano, Pauline Millena recounted how their family discovered that their Mommy Jean was among the hundreds of thousands of patients afflicted with the coronavirus.

Pauline told Family Time that they had to bring their mother to the hospital after experiencing head and back pains for quite some time.

The doctor later on said that Mrs. Millena was suffering from arthritis and prescribed some medications.

“Meron sa kanyang binigay na medicine, tinake niya yun August 18. na ng gabi nag-start na siya mag-take noon bedtime niya.

“Tapos pagka-take niya noon, nag-start na siya na parang nahihilo daw siya na sinisukmura na siya. Hanggang madaling araw ganun pa rin until morning ng August 19 gaun pa rin siya, tapos nagche-chest pain na siya kaka-vomit niya ganyan.”

The family decided to subject Mommy Jean to a rapid test to confirm if she has COVID-19 and Pauline still clearly remembers the moment, when they saw the result.

Pauline noted, “After an hour lumabas na 'yung result na IgM positive siya tapos IgG negative, which means daw na suspected COVID case.”

It took five days before the swab test from the Marikina Valley Medical center to come out. The result would determine if Mrs. Millena has COVID-19.

Pauline described the days waiting for the swab test result as the longest five days of her life ever.

“Noong time na nag-iintay kami, pray lang ako ng pray, tapos may kinakanta akong song,

“Sinasabi ko pa rin kung ano man resulta tatanggapin naming ganyan nasi Lord lang naman talaga 'yung strength namin.”

But her worst fear happened, and her mom tested positive for the virus. She admitted to Drew that it was hard telling her the truth.

Looking back, Pauline said, “Natagalan ako sabihin kay mama na nag-positive 'yung result, positive ka po. Gusto ko umiyak, pero walang lumalabas na luha.

“Initial reaction ni mommy, 'Ah oh sige',”

She added that her Mommy Jean was also worried what their neighbors would say if they found out her condition, too.

“'Yung nga po 'yung winorry niya agad 'yung sa neighbors, kung ano sasabihin. Sabi ko, 'Ma, huwag mo i-worry 'yun, kasi hindi mo naman fault 'yun. Tsaka walan naman gusto na magka-ganyan ka'.”

Contrary to what Pauline Millena thought that they would experience discrimination in their village, many of their neighbors extended their help to their family.

According to her, some even handed them vitamins to strengthen their immunity.

“Yung response po nila noon was actually hindi ko ine-expect, pero parang ang sabi po nila noon sa amin, 'Oh sige ganyan, magpalakas lang kayo ganyan. Ipa-pag-pray namin kayo'.

“Tapos that same night po yung neigbor namin sa tapat nagbigay po siya ng 200 tablets ng Vitamin C, tapos 'yung sa katabi namin nagpadala sila [inaudible] mga pineapple juice na malalaki.”

“Sobrang overwhelming 'yung feeling, hindi namin inexpect na magiging ganun. Sobrang opposite on what we have in mind.

“Umiiyak po ako everytime na may tumutulong sa amin.”

Watch the full story of the COVID journey of the Millena family on Family Time in the video above.

Related content:

Family Time: Pinoy mom cooks Filipino dishes for her Fil-Am twins and stepdaughters

Family Time: Why laugh in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic?