Covid-19: in the eyes of a frontliner
JUST like any typical individual who works in the medical field, 47-year-old Jerry De Mesa knows the dangers of being in close contact with patients, especially at the time that Covid-19 showed its fangs and destructive wrath.
As a frontliner, he knows the risks involved but like a faithful and obedient soldier, he went on with his duties in the hospital where he works, not minding his own health. Still, he exercised caution always and observed all measures to protect himself from the dreaded disease.
As a dialysis technician for one of the top hospitals in the National Capital Region (NCR), his line of work makes him come into close and direct contact with patients. “We take care of our patients here at the hospital in the best possible way because they have nowhere to turn to with regard to their medical needs at the dialysis center of the hospital where I work.”
A mind that went blank
DURING a routine swab test in their unit at the hospital last year at the height of the pandemic, De Mesa said he did not expect that he would test positive for Covid-19 because he never really felt anything in his body. “My mind went practically blank, I didn’t know what to do or think of, if I will be scared, or if I will die since I just recovered from a kidney problem a few months before I tested positive,” narrates De Mesa, who also thought he would undergo dialysis just like his patients. Luckily, his kidney was able to recover.
The hospital’s Emergency Room doctor said it was good that he did not experience any symptoms but nevertheless told him to rest, to monitor and observe his body on a daily basis. That somewhat eased his anxiety and worries.
A varied diet
SINCE one of the symptoms of Covid-19 is loss of smell and taste, he experimented by trying a variety of food. For bread, for example, he tried different spreads like peanut butter, then mayonnaise or cheese the next day. For home-cooked meals, he also tried different dishes for lunch and for dinner like fried fish, then stews and soup-based food. “I was trying to check if I will also experience symptoms like loss of taste just like my other coworkers who also tested positive with Covid-19, and if I will also experience fever, cough, headaches and body aches.”
He thanked God that he did not experience those symptoms that usually accompany the disease up until the end of his home quarantine period. As soon as his quarantine period was done, he immediately reported to the hospital’s employees’ physician to secure a health clearance that he is already fit to work. He has been back at work since and enjoying the company of his patients, but still cautious enough not to get re-infected.
A renewed sense of faith
JUST like those who recovered from the disease, De Mesa also found a renewed sense of faith in the Almighty. He knows his faith became stronger when he started with a kidney problem where he had edema and had difficulty in breathing. But his faith in the Lord never wavered. He just prayed harder than ever and he experienced God’s care. “I just thought that when I had my kidney problem and struggled with the pain, God didn’t forsake me, what more this Covid-19, where I don’t feel anything; so why should I be scared now?”
It is really about trust in God, he admitted, because De Mesa knows God has plans for us though it does not manifest yet and sometimes people do not understand why. “I learned that the hard way. I’m not much of a churchgoer like the others but I know how to pray and I don’t forget to thank God for all His blessings.”
Not a death sentence
AFTER his bout with Covid-19, De Mesa now believes that having the disease is not a death sentence, as most others may think, because there are those like him who are only asymptomatic or only experience mild symptoms.
What is important, he stressed, is for people to follow the minimum public health standards and other health protocols like proper wearing of face masks and face shields, use of alcohol or washing of hands with soap in case of contact and ultimately, physical distancing.
“But for me, perhaps the most important of all is not to forget to thank the Lord for all the blessings and for waking up to a new day every morning in the company of our loved ones.”
He said the biggest thing he also realized after testing positive with Covid-19 is the difference between money and time. “With your money, you can know how much is left just by looking at it, but with time, there is no way of finding out how much you have left.”