COVID-19 survivor reflects on heartbreaking death of spouse

Nida Paqueo was first known to the public as Patient 35.

She was the first Filipino to die of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but to her husband Vic, she was his best friend and loving partner in life.

Vic was the resource person at the Senate hearing on March 5 as part of his work for the Philippine Institute for Development Studies.

Nida, 67, was hospitalized on the same day. Vic, 73, also started showing symptoms, so the two of them were tested for COVID-19.

"I reminded her that she is a fighter. And that she needs to have a strong will to survive this. She just nodded because she cannot say a word anymore," Vic said in JP Soriano's report for "24 Oras."

Six days later, Nida passed away and left him alone to fight the disease. They got the results of the test the same day: both of them were positive for COVID-19.

COVID-19 patients are cremated immediately according to hospital protocol. Many people have been unable to see their late loved ones for the last time, but Vic would not accept getting denied one final reunion with his wife.

"When they were about to take her body out for cremation, however, I insisted to have a glimpse of her and bid her goodbye at least. It was so painful," he said.

But for Vic, not even death can truly keep them apart.

"There is also the solace that I have not lost her entirely, knowing that I can still feel her presence and even see part of her on our wonderful children who reflect her best traits," he said.

READ: First Filipino COVID-19 casualty was beautiful, healthy mom, says daughter

From the Manila Doctors Hospital, Vic was transferred to the Lung Center of the Philippines where he spent 18 days battling COVID-19.

He soldiered on every day, thinking of his wife and their three children, who are based in the United States.

"Losing their mom, it was already a terrible experience for them. But lose me as well, it would have been devastating," he said.

In an interview with Jessica Soho, their daughter Liza admitted that their family found it difficult to be so far away from her dad while grieving her mother's death.

"The loss of my mom was shocking and stabbing in its pain and the recovery of my dad was the most elated victory one could ever experience," she said. --MGP, GMA News