Karlo Duterte's mom, a head nurse in UK hospital, recovers from COVID-19

The mother of Kapuso actor Karlo Duterte, who is a head nurse of a hospital in the United Kingdom, tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

She has since triumphed over the respiratory illness.

According to a 24 Oras report by Lhar Santiago on Monday, Gel Duterte one day began experiencing nausea, headaches, and fever.

“There was one day po when I was at work when I spiked [to] a temperature of 39 degrees. I was lethargic, I was having rigors, I was feeling nauseous, I had [a] headache,” she said.

After receiving her test results, Gel said she felt scared and worried for her son.

“When I found out that I was COVID-positive, I did not tell my son straight away. I told my siblings first. It took me, I think, about three days before I told Karlo,” Gel recalled.

“I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t even move, I couldn’t even get out of bed because I was that weak, I was that frail. All I could think of during that time was my son. What if something happens to me? What if I get worse? He won’t see me and that would be the worst thing,” she added.

Karlo said he could not believe the news when his mother told him that she tested positive for COVID-19.

“I was shocked. ‘Yung tipong hindi ako makapaniwala. Agad agad ang ginawa ko is minessage ko si mama. Ang dami kong tinanong… ultimately, I just said ‘Ma, it’s okay. Alam kong matapang ka, alam kong strong ka, and alam kong kayang kaya mo ‘yan,’” he said.

Gel has since recovered from COVID-19, although she says she still feels “breathless” at times since she has returned to work.

“Alam kong workaholic si mama. Alam kong kahit isang araw lang pagkatapos niyang gumaling, magtatrabaho siya kaagad. Sobrang saludo ako sa mama ko,” Karlo said. -Julia Mari Ornedo/NB, GMA News