Lola mourns husband who died of COVID-19: 'Kung mabubuhay kami ulit, siya pa rin ang hahanapin ko'

A 66-year-old woman could not contain her grief after losing her husband to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In an episode of "Juan Love," Lola Jaena shared how difficult it was for her to accept the death of Lolo Jose. Both of them got hospitalized due to the virus, but they swore they would fight the disease.

The couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last February. They were looking forward to spending many more years together, but it was not meant to be.

"Mga parents niya, mga kapatid niya, pagdating ng [50th anniversary], namamatay 'yung asawa," Lola Jaena shared about Lolo Jose's family.

"Sabi ko, 'Sana Daddy huwag mangyari satin 'yun," she said. "Ito pala iiwanan niya rin ako."

Lola Jaena was the first to show symptoms and be confined to the hospital, but Lolo Jose, 74, followed her there five days later. They were desperate to see each other but they were placed in different rooms.

"Napakasakit noong pakiramdam na, na isang dingding lang o dalawang dingding lang 'yung pagitan mo... 'yung tiyansa mo na sana mapagsama mo sila," said their daughter Jhoana.

They were able to talk on the phone, but Lolo Jaena noticed that Lolo Jose was already having hard time keeping up with the conversation.

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His condition quickly worsened and he died within a week, all alone. Lola Jaena took it hard, never expecting that he would be gone so soon.

"Nag-iisip kasi kami na kung baka puwede niya pang malapitan," said Janelle, their youngest daughter. "Mayakap man lang kasi 'yung last na pagkikita nila is June 19,  bago pumasok ng hospital si Mama."

"Sabi nga nung mga nurses hindi na nga puwede kasi nga mahirap na, baka mas makakuha ng malalang virus," she said.

Lola Jaena became depressed after Lolo Jose's passing, to the point that she wished for her own death. Janelle was allowed to visit to keep an eye on her mother.

"Pagpasok ko nagwawala siya, wala siyang tigil kakaiyak. So niyakap ko kaagad siya," she said. "Sabi niyang ganoon, 'Hindi totoo lahat ng sinasabi n'yo, hanggat wala akong nakikitang katawan.'"

Lolo Jose was cremated on June 30, the same day he died and the day the family got the results of his swab test: he was indeed positive for COVID-19.

Lola Jaena eventually recovered enough to be sent home. She immediately looked for her late husband's clothes and held them against her chest, taking comfort in the familiar scent.

"Thirteen years old pa lang nililigawan na niya kasi ako, e," she said. "Hindi niya ako binitawan na mula noong nagkakilala kaming dalawa."

"Lagi niya sinasabi sa akin, 'Mamatay ako sa 'yo lang. Mamatay ako sa 'yo lang,'" she said. "Kung mabubuhay kami ulit, siya pa rin ang hahanapin ko." —MGP, GMA News