OFW in Abu Dhabi with COVID-19 kept illness secret from 75-year-old mother in PH

A Filipino working in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, tested positive for COVID-19. However, instead of informing his 75-year old mother back in the Philippines, he decided to keep it a secret until he got better.

In a recent online episode of “Survivors,” Zack Allen, who worked as a singer and visual merchandiser in UAE, shared that he didn’t want his mother, Rosario Almoite, to worry since she also suffered from hypertension.

Zack said, “May fear ka din na siyempre may hypertension ang nanay ko, ’pag nalaman niya na may sakit ako or ’pag nalaman niya na na-hospital ako tapos ganoon ang hitsura ko. ’Yung fear na ’yun na ayaw ko pasabi sa nanay ko.”

“Ako ’yung mama’s boy, mahal na mahal ko yung nanay ko kasi mula nung bata ako sa nanay ako eh,” he added.

According to Zack, he tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease on May 10.

He first started showing symptoms a few days after April 26 when he joined a COVID-19 mass testing operation.

During the first week of April, Zack shared that the government conducted a mandatory mass testing for establishments which would soon open after imposing a lockdown by the end of March.

“Doon pa lang sa gathering na ’yun, nakakatakot kasi hindi lahat nasusunod ’yung social distancing, tapos ang dami-daming tao na dumadaan sayo, tapos ’yung sa bus din punuan. So andoon pa rin, andoon agad ’yung fear na baka nandoon ’yung virus. Hindi natin kasi alam kung sino ang meron at sino ang wala,” Zack said.

Zack narrated that the retail shop he worked at temporarily closed because of the pandemic, but even though it reopened again, his health condition soon wouldn’t allow him to work.

“Masakit na ’yung katawan ko tapos inuubo tapos sa gabi nilalagnat ako. Ang inisip ko trangkaso,” he said. “Hanggang sa dumating sa point na nagchi-chill ako. Alam mo ’yung tipong ’yung binti tumatalon ng mag-isa na ’pag sa gabi balutin man ako ng tatlo, apat, lima na kumot hindi ako mabigyan ng init.”

He added, “Tapos, ayan na ’yung ubo na hindi ko malaman kung ’pag umubo ako na, alam mo ’yung parang bubuka ’yung dibdib ko sa sakit ng chest ko sa ’pag umuubo ako.”

By May 9, Zack decided to ask his housemate, Patrick Digo, to bring him to the hospital.

Patrick said, “kasi si Zack gusto niya munang isipin na ‘Hindi, gagaling ako.’ Pero that time, sabi ko sa kaniya, ‘hindi na ’to normal.’”

After undergoing numerous laboratory tests, including one for COVID-19, Zack turned out positive.

For his family

Zack shared that he’s been working in the UAE for 14 years now for his family.

Zack’s family hails from Pangasinan. Of the four siblings, three are working in UAE.

“Hindi madali ang buhay sa probinsya,” he shared. “Hanggang sa nagkaroon ng opportunity na ’yung ate ko nagkaluwag-luwag dito sa Dubai kasi nauna nga siya, ginrab ko ’yung opportunity na ’yun para makatulong ako sa pamilya ko.”

Rosario, their mother left in the Philippines, admitted that she continued to worry about her children who lived in a country far away from her.

“Siyempre nag-aalala ako sa kanila, sabi ko naman di bale at andun naman silang lahat, silang magkakapatid. Pero ang payo ko lang mag-iingat sila dun sa Dubai,” she said.

As soon as Zack started working, he stood as the family’s breadwinner.

“Mapagbigay, lahat ng kaya niyang ibigay, ibibigay niya kahit wala ng matira sa kaniya,” Zack’s sister, Alice, shared.

Zack worked as visual merchandiser at an international retail shop and would from time to time sing at events for the Philippine Embassy. Sometimes, Zack shared, he would also join contests in Dubai where he was able to build connections.

“Nakakakilala kami ng mga producers, event organizers na kinukuha kami para mag-front act sa mga artista. Na-connect ako sa Philippine Embassy so, ’pag may mga event ang Philippine Embassy, tinatawagan nila kami for any singing engagement,” Zack said.

Beginning of his battle

After testing positive for COVID-19, Zack worried about his health since not only did he have pneumonia, but he also had type-2 diabetes.

“Naisip ko na mamamatay ako, naisip ko talaga ’yun,” Zack said. “Andoon ’yung takot, kasi siyempre nababasa ko na may mga nawawala o hindi nakakayanan ’yung COVID kaya namamatay sila. So, sa akin hindi ko alam kung hanggang kailan ako.”

Although three of his siblings were in the UAE, they couldn’t visit him because of the lockdown and because the hospital didn’t allow guests.

“’Yung luha ’ko talaga hindi na ako matigil sa kakaiyak eh, knowing na ganoon na-admit na siya sa hospital tapos walang communication, masakit,” Alice said.

After a lengthy discussion, Zack and his siblings decided to keep his disease a secret from their 75-year-old mother.

With no one to accompany him in his hospital room, Zack shared that he would get his strength not only from God, but also from his love for music.

“Pinipilit ko kumanta noong nasa hospital ako, nahihirapan ako kumanta kasi nga may ubo, may shortness of breath. Ang ginagawa ko hina-hum ko na lang lahat ng gusto ko kantahin,” he said. “Hindi ako makapag-utter ng prayer, those music, those songs would already be considered as prayer.”

It was only when Zack underwent plasma treatment did he finally start to feel better.

“Bumubuti ’yung katawan ko, hindi ko sinasabing ’yun yung gamot pero ’yun yung naramdaman ko kasi na nagkaroon ako ng parang ginhawa ba. ’Yung ubo, hindi na ganoon kasakit sa chest. ’Yung paghinga ko hindi ko na napi-feel na malalagutan ako,” he said.

By May 25, Zack was declared COVID-19 free and finally discharged from the hospital.

“Paglabas ko, alam mo talagang tinignan ko ’yung the whole building ng Sheikh Khalifa Medical Center at talagang nagpapasalamat ako doon sa pag-aalaga din talaga na ginawa sa ’kin,” he said.

While Zack was quarantined in his apartment, he soon decided to call up his mother to finally tell her the news, just in time for her 75th birthday.

Just before greeting her a “happy birthday,” Zack told his mom: “Nagka-ano ako, more than 2 weeks ako sa ospital, [muntikan] na nga akong mamatay.”

Rosario expressed shock and disbelief, and instantly asked her son if he was feeling all better now.

Zack assured his mom he was OK and told her to keep safe at all times. “Ginagawa naman namin yung lahat ng magagawa naming maibigay ’yung gusto mo kahit paano. Sana maging mahaba pa ’yung buhay mo  at magkakasama ulit tayo ulit,” he said.

Zack shared that it was a huge relief to finally be able to tell his mother.

“Siyempre ’yung worry ko dati na alam mo ’yun, baka mamatay ako ta’s hindi namin sinasabi, na ngayon at least okay ako ’tsaka ko siya nasabi. At least, hindi siya ganun na nag-worry,” he said.

As he continued to regain his strength back in his apartment, Zack vowed to continue to serve his family and go back to work this coming July. – RC, GMA News