99-year-old grandmother overcomes COVID-19

A 99-year-old woman overcame the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Athena Imperial reported Tuesday on "24 Oras."

While elderly people are among the most vulnerable to the virus, Donata Dimayacyac proved she can battle the disease and come out victorious.

Dimayakyak spent more than two weeks in the critical care unit of the Chinese General Hospital.

She finally went home to her family on Monday.

One of her granddaughters said their family initially wanted Dimayacyac to stay at home instead of being confined.

They were worried that Dimayacyac, who has dementia, might get depressed because she will not be seeing any family member in her hospital room.

"Baka ma-feel niya na inabanduna siya, pinabayaan siya, malulungkot siya and 'pag nalungkot si lola, baka mas mabawasan ang will to live," Ruth Agnes Declaro said.

However, they eventually decided to confine her as her oxygen level dropped.

Declaro added that CGH medical workers kept a close watch on her grandmother.

Dimayacyac meanwhile urged those battling the disease to never lose hope.

"Sa lahat ng pinanghihinaan ng loob, huwag kayong mawalan ng pag-asa," she said. — Ma. Angelica Garcia/DVM, GMA News