25-year-old ICU nurse shares her COVID-19 survival story

A 25-year-old nurse who works at the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Asian Hospital and Medical Center became one of the thousands of Filipinos who contracted the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In a Facebook post, Alyssa Marie Lungca detailed her ordeal, which she said started days after treating a fellow nurse who had been working abroad.

Coming off a three-day workload, Alyssa shared she started feeling body pains. The following day, March 28, she sought consultation.

"I was categorized as a low-risk PUI. I had my COVID swab test, CBC, and x-ray done. 14 days of quarantine was advised while awaiting results," she said.

She then isolated herself at home, only suffering from the occasional cough and colds, which she thought was due to her allergic rhinitis. Her CBC and x-ray results had come back normal.

But on April 1, Alyssa got a call saying that her COVID-19 test results came back positive.

"Time stopped before me. I was hyperventilating; the person on the other line was calming me down. I was crying in fear that I won't be able to see my family again, fear that I might acquire pneumonia and be intubated," she recalled.

"I've seen how the disease deteriorates patients fast within 24 to 48 hours. I've seen patients who aren't able to see their family and who have died alone because of this disease," she added.

She was then admitted to the hospital for treatment.

There, her mental health "really took a big blow."

"All the statistics were geared toward deaths, all I had was faith and hope," she said.

The good news was that doctors told her the disease is not progressing.

Her laboratory result showed that she was doing fine, that there was no need for antibiotics. However, she needed to stay in the hospital for monitoring.

After three days of medication and repeat lab works, she was deemed clear for discharge. She received her negative retest results this week.

"I defied the odds. I was a survivor," Alyssa said.

She said that she hopes to create awareness and "lessen the discrimination against our frontliners."

"I want to shed light that there is hope," she added.

And her parting words: stay at home.

Once fully recovered, Alyssa plans to return to work to treat COVID-19 patients.

A total of 21 Filipino doctors have died due to COVID-19, according to data from the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PHAP).

Last Monday, ten health workers working at various Department of Health-run hospitals in Valenzuela City tested positive for COVID-10.

Five doctors at the Sampaloc Hospital in Manila also tested positive for the disease, prompting the city to temporarily close down the hospital.

As of Wednesday, the Philippines has recorded 3,870 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 182 deaths, and 96 recoveries.

—JCB, GMA News