Pinay nurse in Chicago succumbs to COVID-19, leaves 3 young children behind

A Filipino nurse in Chicago, Illinois succumbed to  corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19), leaving three young kids motherless, according to a Chicago Tribune report.

Krist Angielen Guzman, 35, died on May 2 after a short battle with COVID-19, the report said. She had two sons aged five months and five years, and a daughter aged six years.

Her husband Omar, who works with her at the Meadowbrook Manor Bolingbrook health facility, also tested positive for COVID-19. Unlike Krist, Omar has not experienced symptoms so far.

Based on public health report, 10 deaths and 93 COVID-19 cases were recorded among the residents and employees in Bolingbrook health facility. It is one of the hardest-hit nursing homes in Illinois.

Krist was born in the Philippines. Her uncle, Dr. Leandro Resurreccion III, 57, also died due to COVID-19 in the Philippines on March 31.

The report said Resurrection inspired Krist to pursue a career in nursing. In fact, she named her youngest son Leandro before him as she idolized his work as a pediatric transplant surgeon.

After his death, Krist posted on Facebook on April 2 that he was her idol, recalling that when she was a child her uncle would tell her about his patients and show her his medical instruments and photographs in his medical books.

Krist  experienced a runny nose and cough so she decided to get tested for the virus. The results turned negative. She missed 14 days of work while recovering and returned on April 20.

According to her family, the protective gears at her work were inadequate. They said Krist just made her own masks at home for extra protection and bought her own goggles.

Within days, Guzman developed mild virus-related symptoms. Her last day at work was April 23, according to the report.

Krist was again tested for COVID-19 on April 25, and isolated a hotel alone away from her family. Two days later, her results came showing she was positive. --Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News