7-month pregnant OFW in UAE dies of COVID-19; baby saved

A seven-month pregnant overseas Filipino worker (OFW) had died of COVID-19 with doctors rushing to successfully save her baby through Caesarean operation.

This was gathered from the OFW’s husband, Joseph Ayson Tiglao, who told GMA News Online he could not be with his wife, 28-year-old Grace Joy, during her dying moments in late May as she lay intubated because he himself had also tested positive for COVID-19 and was in isolation.

Joseph Ayson Tiglao with wife Grace Joy. The two were supposed to go home to the Philippines in June. Photo from Joseph Ayson Tiglao

“At the time, isolated na ako,” Tiglao recalled. “Nagkausap naman kami ni misis. Nagiging better naman na daw sya.

“Pero lumalala, sobrang nahihirapan siyang huminga kaya in-intubate. Nag-decide sila na mag-CS operation to save the baby,” Tiglao added, citing information he got from the doctors.

He said the baby girl, Dylhanne Grace, was born at 10:30 p.m.; seven hours later at 5:30 a.m. the following day, her mother died after twice having cardiac arrest.

Tiglao said he arrived at the hospital around 4 a.m. of the same day following approval from the isolation center.

Tiglao, a restaurant staff in Abu Dhabi who hails from San Luis, Pampanga, shared that he and his wife, also a restaurant staff in the capital city and was from Cagayan Valley, had planned to go home to the Philippines in June.

Baby Dylhanne Grace is under hospital care. Tiglao was declared COVID-free on June 27 after testing negative of the virus twice, his wristband tracking device finally removed.

The nightmarish incident with his wife happened on May 23.

“On that day, she was asking me to be there next to her kasi one week na kaming hindi nagkikita. Hindi ko alam na parang yun na… parang gusto na pala niyang magpaalam sa 'kin,” Tiglao said.

“Super sakit isipin kasi nga andito ako wala akong magawa bilang asawa niya. If alam ko lang, hindi ko na siya iniwan sa hospital nun since parehas naman kaming positive,” he added.

Labor Attaché Alex Padaen said Tiglao’s case is already with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

“I already referred him to OWWA to know kung mag-qualify siya doon sa COVID-19 assistance fund. They are now evaluating and will call the OFW,” he told GMA News Online.

“May application na siya. Pinapa-submit lang siya ng kanyang medical report. Itse-check kung pwedeng mabigyan ng burial assistance yung asawa,” he added. — KBK/RSJ, GMA News