Fil-Am nurse surprised with new car by Ellen DeGeneres

A Filipino-American nurse has received a car from her idol and TV host Ellen DeGeneres for the hardships she experienced while she performed her duties amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

According to Athena Imperial’s report on “24 Oras,” Flor Roz took care of the elderly and patients for rehabilitation in a skilled nursing facility in Los Angeles, California, where she has been working for three years.

Roz said the pandemic brought more challenges as she also tested positive for COVID-19.

“I was symptomatic. I had headache and then it progressed to body pains and then it progressed to ano na, how do you call that, cough, sore throat, and then later on, naging chills like fever. Lastly, nawalan ako ng sense of smell and taste,” she said.

She was separated from her family for more than one month while she was isolated. After this, Roz had to be isolated anew as after she was exposed to another COVID-19 patient.

Though she thought of quitting due to the dangers to her and her family, she said she needed her job and that she was also needed by her patients.

Despite the hardships she experienced, she considered herself lucky to receive a surprise from Ellen.

“Akala ko madami kaming ini-interview nung sa set na ’yon and then ayun out of nowhere paglabas ko kasi may bumubusina sa labas ng gate. Eh, syempre I’m in the middle of interview so na-interrupt ako,” Roz said.

“Sabi ko sino ba ’yon. Pagbukas ko ayun nakita niya ’yung reaction, oh my god. Sobrang unbelievable. Muntik na ko himatayin,” she added.

Roz said the car is a big help for her family as this will protect them from getting exposed to the illness, especially since her husband picked her up from the facility.

“Since nga nagshe-share kami ng kotse ng husband ko, parang blessing na rin na binigay niya sa akin ’yung car kasi minsan naglalakad kasi ako papuntang work,” she said.

“For safety reason na lang din since in and out ako sa work ko. And hindi mo alam kung anong bacteria nadadala mo sa kotse mo,” she added.

She also said she was happy that the TV host said the service of frontliners was important amid the pandemic.

“Sa sobrang paghihirap mo dito sa America, kayod ka ng kayod, walang nagta-tap ng back mo na, oh you’re doing a great job. Sa kaniya ko lang na-feel na after ng show na ’yon, ang dami pala, milyon-milyong tao pala ’yung proud sa akin,” she said. – Joahna Lei Casilao/RC, GMA News