A COVID-19 survivor OFW mom worries about frontliner son in the Philippines

An Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) in Hong Kong did not only endure her fight against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), she also had to go through the pain of not being with her family during the toughest time in her life.

Jinkie Alhambra, who has been working as an OFW for over 15 years, was Hong Kong's 118th COVID-19 case. She is among the 16 OFWs who tested positive for the disease.

Jinkie, whose main job is to cook meals, said she never thought she would contract the disease since she has stayed indoors for weeks.

"Hindi ko maisip na sa sobrang pag-iingat namin nina amo sa bagay-bagay at hindi na nga ako lumabas ng ilang linggo para lang makaiwas sa crowd dahil baka kung ano makuha mo sa labas pero still dito mo pa pala makukuha sa loob," she narrated.

She said an old married couple stayed at their home for six days after a three-week tour before they flew back home to Canada.

"Dalawang araw bago sila bumalik ng Canada, medyo may lagnat na yung matandang babae," Jinkie narrated.

When Jinkie woke up on March 4, she started to have a headache and sore throat. On the night of March 9, she was confined and underwent a swab test. The next day, the COVID-19 result came back positive.

Aside from the fear of having a deadly disease, Jinkee suffered more because she was away from her family.

Jinkie said being an OFW is hard because she had missed countless milestones and special occasions of her family, especially her two sons.

"Marami ka talagang na-miss hindi mo na talaga mabibilang ano 'yung mga bagay na na-miss mo na sana ginagawa mo together with them," she said.

When she first flew to work abroad, her youngest son was still a child.

"Somehow very clingy siya sa 'kin, napakasakit 'pag maalala mo 'yun tapos  dumaan yung panahon na hindi mo talaga nakita yung childhood nila yung pano siya lumaki napakahirap but kailangan i-mindset mo yung sarili mo na ginagawa mo to para sa kanila," she narrated.

Aside from being away from them during a pandemic, what's making Jinkie more worried is her youngest son Janos, who is a frontliner working as a radiologic technician.

"Siya kukuha ng x-ray and I know how exposed those rad techs are pagka sa COVID," she said.

Jinkie said she's so worried to the point that she wants to be the one to put personal protective equipment (PPE) on her son to make sure he's well protected.

"Parang grade 1 'yung anak ko sabi ko ako magsusuot sayo ng PPE para sigurado ko lang na walang lulusot na ano ganon pa rin pakiramdam mo bilang ina kasi takot ka yung anak mo sasabak doon naranasan ko gaano kahirap magka-COVID," she said.

On her 23rd day at the hospital, Jinkie's family celebrated after receiving the good news that she won against her battle against COVID-19.

"Sabi ng asawa ko buti naman makakalabas ka na, si kuya nagpost na siya na 'yes, panalo kami!'"

For her children Janos and Jeremy, she is not only a champion of COVID-19, she's also the hero of their lives.

"Gusto ko magpasalamat sa lahat ng guidance mo sa amin ni Janos, sa lahat ng sakripisyo mo na nagtrabaho ka diyan sa ibang bansa, hayaan mo once na makauwi ka dito kami na ang bahala ni Janos para magtrabho para hindi mo na kailangan pang bumalik sa ibang bansa," her eldest son Janos said. "Miss na miss ka na namin. We love you, Ma. See you soon."

Jinkie has had a series of tests to know whether or not she can donate her plasma to help treat other patients who are still battling the disease.

"Bilang isang survivor, natutuwa akong nalampasan natin si COVID, nanalo tayo sa kanila at itong second chance na ibinigay satin ng panginoon ay sana wag natin sayangin gawin natin ang lahat ng bagay paano natin mauuplift ang ating pamilya at mga nagkakaroon ng sakit ng COVID." — Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/LA, GMA News