Frontliners endure heartbreak of losing patients to COVID-19

As they spend time together, frontliners form friendships with their patients suffering from the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19). What happens when their patient dies?

In Atom Araullo’s “Nang Tumigil ang Mundo” documentary, a doctor shared how she and her fellow hospital staff grieved for their lost patients, especially when they’re the ones who intubated, resuscitated, and watched them take their last breath.

“Ang hirap sabihin na namatay na ’yung pasyente despite the resuscitations, especially long staying ’yung pasyente,” said Dr. Therese Anne Suñe, an infectious disease fellow at Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.

“Nakakapag-form na kami ng bond with the patients and the families kasi siyempre nakakausap namin,” she added.

Fleur Quero Villeno, a disease surveillance officer at Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium, admitted that their patients’ death also took a toll on them.

“May mga times din po na nagbre-break down din po kami kasi hindi na rin namin kinaya ’yung burden emotionally, mentally,” said Villeno.

“Ikaw ’yung ituturing nilang family dahil during this time wala silang ibang connection kundi ikaw. Wala silang ibang mapapagsabihan sa nararamdaman nila kung may sakit man sila, kung may gusto silang ikwento kundi ikaw,” she added.

Villeno would feel helpless when family members text her asking about the patients, not knowing their loved one had already passed away.

“Hindi po namin masabi that moment na, ‘sorry po wala na ’yung father niyo, sorry wala na po ’yung mother niyo,’ kasi hindi namin call na magsabi ng ganoon,” she said.

However, it’s a whole different level of happiness when their patients recover from the disease.

“Pag nakaka-recover sila, masayang-masaya kami, kino-congratulate namin sila,” said Villeno.

“At the same time sobrang sarap din sa pakiramdam na sasabihan kami ng pasiyente na, ‘salamat po, salamat po sa inyo, salamat po sa tulong.’” – RC, GMA News