Doctor intubated for 12 days now a COVID-19 survivor

VRP Medical Center in Mandaluyong City was one of the first hospitals that placed its staff on quarantine after it was confirmed that a patient lied about their travel history.

Dr. CJ Castillo, 30, was one of the first medical workers who treated and intubated the patient.

Back then, there were no lockdowns and personal protective equipment came in limited supply when about 16 of them were exposed to the patient.

What they initially thought was heart problem was, in fact, COVID-19.

Two weeks later, CJ began to feel symptoms. When her condition became critical, she was brought to the intensive care unit and intubated for 12 days.

“In denial pa kasi ako na baka COVID siya. Kasi ang first symptom ko was pagtatae. Temperature pattern ko was 38-40. Yung lagnat ko was mainit na mainit siya, konting hangin lang nilalamig ako. Tapos may muscle pains, may panghihina din,” CJ described her symptoms on GMA’s “Frontliners” on Thursday.

“Noong time na sinabi na sa akin na i-intubate na ’ko, ang feeling ko talaga noon, ‘Lord, kayo na’ng bahala sa ’kin. Mangyari kung ano mangyayari, but I lift everything to you,’” said CJ.

Lung failure

During her intubation period, CJ also developed Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome or ARDS, a complication of COVID-19, where the lung fails.

Her colleague and friend Dr. Ian Masaga explained how bad CJ’s condition was.

“Sa COVID-19 patients, dinadapa namin sila para help ’yun sa kanilang lungs. Pangit talaga ’yung lungs niya. Pag nag-ARDS ka kasi, isang hakbang na lang, parang magre-report ka na kay San Pedro eh. So ganoon kapangit, umabot talaga siya doon. Majority of our ICU patients na naa-ICU, they really die. Kakaunti lang ’yung nakaka-survive.”

Her situation made her family and friends worry that she might not make it.

“Masakit talaga. Kapag naaalala eh nakakaiyak,” said mom Citas about her youngest daughter. “Kasi hindi lang siya basta COVID eh. Nag-50-50 siya eh.”

Citas said she read on the news and on Facebook that those who were intubated eventually died. “Kung maaari, ayaw ko sanang ipa-intubate,” she said.

“Pero ang gusto ng husband ko naman, sabi niya, kung ’yun lang ang magiging paraan para gumaling, sige, bigyan niya ng authorization,” she added.

“Kung alam lang naming kung papaano siya gagaling, pinagawa na naming sa doctor. Binibigay na naming lahat kay Lord, kung kunin sya o ano. Pero sana, ang dasal namin, hangga’t maaari, huwag muna.”

Worried colleagues

Her colleagues, meanwhile, were worried and disheartened to see their fellow frontliner suffering.

“Nakakapanghina ng loob nung nakikita mo ’yung kasamahan mo na frontliner ang tinamaan, tapos siya na ’yung inaalagaan mo,” said Ian.

“We were scared for her condition because she acquired the infection during the early days of the pandemic here in our country. At that time, marami pa yung nagsa-succumb to the infection, especially in that kind of situation,” said Dr. Anthony Fadiño.

“Sobrang worried po ako sa kanya, and sobrang close po kami,” said CJ’s friend Jam Alarcon. “Hindi ko alam kung masu-survive ba niya ’yung COVID o hindi.”

Cena Esperida, who’s also a frontliner based in New Zealand, could not believe her friend would reach the point of being intubated.

“I was really crying kasi para sa akin, kapag na-intubate ka, serious ’yun. Hindi siya, parang, ‘ah gagaling siya.’ Parang may second thought na baka hindi niya kayanin. Hindi mo hawak ’yun eh. All you have to do, ’yung magagawa mo for her is to pray,” she said.

“Honestly parang nagging 60-40 ’yung laban,” said Ian. “Sixty na hindi niya kaya, pero 40 na magiging successful. Pero bumaligtad.”

Regaining consciousness

After being intubated for 12 days, CJ regained her consciousness.

Ian immediately took a video of CJ while talking to her, asking her to nod her head to make sure she understood what he was saying.

“Maraming nagpe-pray para sa ’yo ha, maraming umaasa. Maitatawid natin ito, OK?,” he told her while shooting the video. 

Ian said he took the video to show to his colleagues who were taking care of her so they would know that what they’re doing was effective.

When he told CJ everyone was praying for her, she felt like crying. “Kaya lang ’yun nga, hinang-hina ako eh,” she said.

She couldn’t believe she was out for a long time, because she remembered going to work on March 14. The next thing she knew, it was April 3.

Ian said being young was probably what helped CJ survive. “Napansin namin ang mga below 50 ay nagsu-survive, maganda ang success rate.”

In full and colorful PPEs, her colleagues cheered for her as she was finally discharged on April 14. 

CJ was overwhelmed to know how much her fellow frontliners supported her, that they even had a chat group where they discussed the best treatments for her.

“They would do everything for me para mabuhay ako,” she said.

Back to the frontlines

CJ plans to return to frontline duty after two months of rest and preparation.

She would get inspiration from her future patients, saying she had a mission “to share my story to my patients, give them hope and inspiration na hindi porke’t ma-ICU ka, mamamatay ka.”

“’Yung mga doctors mo, gagawin lahat ng kaya nila para mabuhay ka. And Lord is always beside you to guide you. ’Yun nga have a strong faith to God,” she added.

On her plans to return to medical work, she had the support of her loved ones.

“Suportado ko siya na bumalik sa frontline kasi passion niya na mag-treat ng tao, and ang pagiging health care worker, and pagiging nurse, we never call it a profession, we call it a calling,” said Jam.

Cena asked CJ to be more careful this time. “Hopefully maging better doctor siya sa mga pinagdaanan niya,” she said.

CJ’s fellow doctors asked her to take it slow. “Don’t rush it. Make sure her body is fully recovered first, not just her body but her mind,” said Anthony.

Her mother also expressed her support, saying treating people was CJ’s passion. “Iyon ang kaligayahan niya eh, kaya siya nag-medicine.”

CJ’s experience with COVID-19 taught her to be grateful for each day.

“I was intubated for 12 days. Pwedeng isang iglap, pwede akong mawala, pwedeng hindi na ’ko bumalik. Masyadong matagal ’yung days na naka-intubate ako para lang ako huminga. Every day when I wake up, I always thank the Lord na buhay ako ngayon, na nakakahinga na ’ko on my own.” – GMA News