Before going into coma, nurse with COVID-19 tells wife: 'I promise you, I will come back'

"I promise you, I will come back."

This is what a Filipino nurse in the United Kingdom told his wife just before he was intubated while fighting the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

A frontliner in the Accident & Emergency department of a UK hospital, Franco Palo consequently spent the next five weeks on life support. Through it all, his wife Grace never lost hope.

"Siya pa naman, kapag may promise talaga, ginagawa niya talaga 'yun," she shared in an episode of "Juan Love."

"Sabi ko sa kaniya, 'Dad, I'm here. I'm holding onto your promise na you will come back,'" she narrated. "'So we will always be here, 'yung mga bata at everyone in the hospital is praying for you.'"

READ: Pinoy frontliner in UK survives COVID-19 after weeks on life support

Like her husband, Grace also works in A&E. She was the first to show COVID-19 symptoms but she eventually recovered with no issues.

When Franco also developed high fever and mild cough, she acted quickly and had him checked by the doctor. Everything seemed to be normal, but his condition suddenly deteriorated.

"You have to have this saturation probe na you have to put on your finger to check the oxygen level," she said. "And that time, it was 67% only and the normal should have been 96-100% for normal person."

She took him to the hospital, but on the way there, she saw how the color of her husband's face changed.

"While I was driving, he was at the back seat. Nakikita ko siya sa salamin, parang nag-grayish color. 'Yung kaniyang lips, nagbu-blue," she said.

"Pagka-park ko, bumaba na siya, kinuha. Tapos hindi naman ako makalabas ng car kasi kumbaga parang na-freeze na ako doon sa sasakyan kasi alam ko na masama talaga ang lagay niya," she continued.

According to Grace, the CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) did not work and the hospital staff suggested for him to be intubated.

"Ang pinakamahirap 'yung sabihin mo sa mga bata on that night na umuwi ako na, 'Your Dad has gone into coma.' Umiiyak ako noong sinasabi ko sa kanila na, 'Tulog na ang tatay n'yo, kasi nga hirap na hirap siyang huminga,'" she said.

The situation took another grim turn when Franco had to use the Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation or ECMO machine, which would temporarily act as his lungs.

Grace was afraid that her husband would never wake up, but she kept her courage by thinking of his promise to her.

"'Pag nagvi-video call kami kinakausap namin na, 'We are just here, inaantay ka naming umuwi. Just be strong,'" she said.

After five weeks on life support and ventilator, their family's prayers were answered and Franco finally regained consciousness.

"Nagkahawak 'yung kamay namin. And I am very happy. Very happy. Ang happiest moment ko is ‘yung nagising ako. Noong nakita ko si Grace. Masayang-masaya ako that time," Franco said.

Franco had to undergo rehabilitation to learn how to walk again, but he was finally discharged from the hospital after two months.

He said after his experience, he learned that life goes on and he decided to show more love to his family.

"Definitely, love conquers all. Whatever mountains, whatever highs, ups, downs, lahat," Grace said. —Jannielyn Bigtas/MGP, GMA News