Healthcare workers tell tales of goodbyes, last wishes of COVID-19 patients

Healthcare workers on Wednesday shared stories of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in critical condition saying heartbreaking goodbyes and final messages to their loved ones.

In Sandra Aguinaldo’s report on “24 Oras,” Dr. Jubert Benedicto, a pulmonary critical care specialist at the Philippine General Hospital, said asks patients if they want to talk to their families before wearing a respirator.

“[N]gayon pa lang po ba may gusto po ba kayong tawagan para makausap ninyo na kayo ay kinakausap na wala pang tubo. Doon na, doon na nangagagaling. So papatawag yan ng anak niya, ng asawa niya,” Benedicto said.

[Do you want to call anyone right now so you can talk to them without the tube. It's where it starts. The patients would then call their children, their spouse.]

“Tapos in front of you, doon na ‘yung mga habilin. So doon na ‘yung mga sasabihin nilang mag-ingat kayo, mahalin niyo si mama niyo. Talagang nakakatusok sa puso mo,” he added.

[And then, in front of you, they would give their last wishes. There, they would tell their families to be careful, to love their mother. It really pierces the heart.]

Benedicto said many healthcare workers were already fatigued.

“Aminado talaga kaming pagod. Wala sigurong magsasabi sa inyong hindi kami pagod,” he said.

[We admit that we’re tired. No healthcare worker will tell you that we are not tired.]

He also said that they were plagued by the fear that they could also get infected with COVID-19 as long as they are not vaccinated.

“Kada soot mo ng PPE, kada hakbang mo na nasa loob ka ng ospital, talagang nagple-play sa isip mo na ‘wag naman sana pero pu-puwede din mangyari sa yo itong nakikita mo lahat,” Benedicto said.

[Every time you wear your PPE, every time you step in the hospital, it really plays in your mind that hopefully, it won’t, but there’s a possibility that everything you’re seeing may happen to you.]

“’Yung nakikita mong okay sila kahapon or two days ago tapos ngayon nagkikita na kayo sa emergency dahil hirap na huminga,”  he added.

[You will see that a patient is okay yesterday or two days ago and now, you’re seeing them in the emergency room because they’re having trouble breathing.]

Meanwhile, Dr. Claro Antonio said he has experienced receiving the last-minute instruction of a patient in critical condition.

This was because COVID-19 patients cannot be watched over by their families.

“So parang ayan, Doc, actually may savings ako, pakisabi na lang sa asawa ko na ganito po. ‘Yung ATM card ko nakalagay sa ganito, ‘yung password niyan ganito, may laman yan Doc na ganito. Pasabi na lang po sa asawa ko,” he said.

[One said that Doc, I have savings, please tell my spouse. My ATM card is here, the password is here, it has money. Please just tell my spouse.]

“Nakakalungkot talaga,” he added.

[It was really saddening.]

Antonio assured doctors are always doing their best, but are confronted with the reality that hospitals are overwhelmed with patients.

“Sabi ko it’s not about the beds. Even ‘yung mga healthcare workers namin are also getting sick,” he said.

[I said it’s not about the beds. Even our healthcare workers are also getting sick.]—Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News