Doctor with COVID-19 pens emotional message: 'Hindi pa ako handang mamatay'

A doctor who contracted the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has penned an emotional message while in quarantine.

In a post on Facebook, Dr. Grace Caras-Torres, an active consultant at St. Luke's Medical Center, revealed that she was PH194 and talked about her symptoms.

The doctor said she experienced repeated high-grade fevers, headaches, and body aches. Now her condition has worsened.

READ: COVID-19 taking toll on hospitals, doctors

"Akala ko pagaling na ako, bigla akong nagtae. Sabi sa Wuhan, pag nagkaroon ng GI symptoms, tuluy-tuloy nang pumapangit ang kundisyon," Caras-Torres said.

"Ngayon lang ako natakot. Napaiyak ako. Hindi pa ako handang mamatay," she added. "Kelangan pa ko ng anak ko. Sasabak pa ko sa gyera."

The doctor said she didn't think she would catch the virus so early in the fight against COVID-19. She thought about her 4-year-old child and her senior citizen parents, whom she could have exposed to the disease.

READ: 144 health workers in The Medical City undergo quarantine due to COVID-19 exposure

"Di bale nang ako, wag lang sila," she said. "Nagkulong na ako sa kwarto. Nag-birthday akong nakaquarantine at may sakit na nakamamatay. Buti pala umabot pa ako ng 42."

Caras-Torres said she tries to entertain herself by surfing social media. She asked everyone to check up on their families, especially those under quarantine.

"Hindi lang pala virus ang kalaban ko, pati katinuan ng pag-iisip," she said. "Kaya kamustahin nyo mga kakilala nyong may sakit, mga naka-quarantine, at ang pamilya nila. Kelangan nila ng pagpapalakas ng loob."

READ: 530 UST Hospital staff quarantined over COVID-19 exposure

Another doctor has become a person under investigation (PUI) after being exposed to COVID-19 amid the lack of medical supplies and protective equipment. He has hypertension and is considered a high-risk patient.

On Saturday, a cardiologist died on duty according to the Philippine Heart Association.

"Sana matapos na ito. Sana gumaling na kami. Sana wala nang mamatay," Caras-Torres said.

As of Monday, the Philippines has 396 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 33 deaths. --MGP, GMA News