Lovers, frontliners

Two young doctors tell their tales

Since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak, healthcare workers have been put in the spotlight. They have been called frontliners, because they are at the forefront of the fight against the dreaded disease. But many healthcare workers—doctors, nurses, hospital staff—have been making an appeal to the public: We are not the frontliners, they say, you are. Hospitals and medical centers, these aren’t the frontlines, they say.

While that is true, because hospitals should be the last line of defense against the SARS-COV-2, the work doctors, nurses, and hospital staff do is undeniably remarkable and heroic. And they have not been spared, either.

Two young doctors, who happen to be lovers, share their experiences and how they cope with the challenges of being in the middle of the action in the fight against Covid-19.

In the interest of protecting their privacy, they asked to remain anonymous. But here are their stories.

Dr. C: She took an oath to be of service

I am currently an ER triage physician assigned to a public hospital for the duration of the Covid-19 enhanced quarantine. I am a resident at the same hospital specializing in Dermatology. But because of the outbreak, all residents, no matter what specialization you are taking—such as ophthalmology, ENT, OB, anesthesiology, dermatology, etc.—are tasked to help out in the ER since the outpatient section of the hospital has been closed and temporarily shut down.

Working as an ER triage physician means seeing a variety of patients no matter what cases they have, whether they’re pregnant, have trauma/lacerations, or abdominal pains, even stroke patients, and of course Covid patients.

It was difficult at first since most of us are already specializing, which means we should be more focused on diseases that are under our specializations. In my case, I’m used to seeing patients with skin diseases. But because of the outbreak, we have all gone back to becoming general physicians. For many of us, some information about other diseases isn't so fresh in our minds anymore. So it’s kind of difficult adjusting again to being a medical intern or a general physician.

I go on a six-hour duty at the ER triage every six days. We follow a decking schedule, and all the shifts are occupied by different residents 24/7. In the future, we might be on duty more often, since there are doctors who are getting put in quarantine too. We’re given full PPEs—the white suit with hoodie, goggles, face mask, boots, and gloves. But I know these will soon run out, since there really is a lack of resources. Sometimes I worry that the hospital might run out by the time I go on duty again and I would not know how to protect myself anymore.

When I am on duty and fully dressed in the PPE, tinitiis ko lang yung init of the outfit, which I wear the entire time I’m on duty. I cannot drink water since I fear it might get contaminated if I remove my PPE. We also can’t use the restroom because we’ll just be contaminating ourselves if we put the same PPE on. Since there is a lack of PPEs, we’re only given one set while on duty. We can’t get a new one. All of us endure the heat of the outfit, dripping wet and sweaty inside while also out in the heat of the sun since the triage is located outside of the ER. Most of us get dehydrated and have headaches by the time we go home.

It is also difficult to take the history of patients since we have to shout through our face masks, face shields, and through the makeshift plastic barrier the hospital has provided us, just so patients could hear us. A lot of us healthcare workers also fear that, when we go home, we also might be bringing the virus with us. This is why I’m staying with [Dr. M, my boyfriend] in the meantime, since I don’t want my parents to get exposed.

Most of us sacrifice not being with our loved ones so we don’t put them at risk. I call my parents every day. I tell them I love them as much as possible. Because I don’t know if I might get the virus too, one day. There are doctors at my hospital who are already symptomatic and they have been put in quarantine. So we always have to adjust to a new schedule and situation. Maybe when most doctors are unavailable, I might be assigned inside the ER or the wards really managing patients, and not just the triage anymore.

Do I feel like giving up? Sometimes, yes. Yes, because mahirap siya and you put your life on the line. But more often, I know it’s selfish if I think that way. I took an oath to be of service to others and I believe this is my calling, so I also don’t want to give up. Pero sa totoo lang, I don’t think giving up is an option either. We don’t really have a choice, too. On the days I’m not on duty, I try to eat healthy and do exercises at home just so my body is conditioned and ready to face the demands at the ER.

My message to Filipinos: Please stay at home. If you go to the ER, please let it be really because of an emergency! Self-quarantine if you think you have been exposed to a Covid patient or if you feel you’re starting to have symptoms. Let's just help each other. Now is not the time to be maarte. Follow the rules, follow the protocol. Our government is already having difficulties handling the situation and our healthcare workers are sacrificing their lives. Please also do your part. All you need to do is stay at home and, maybe, watch Netflix. That doesn’t sound so bad, if you ask me.

I would also like to thank those who have been helping us out, donating food and PPEs to hospitals. We appreciate all your efforts and it means so much to us in these trying times. We assure you that we are doing our best in fighting this virus and in helping out the Filipino people. Salamat sa inyo at mabuhay po tayong lahat.

Dr. M: He makes sure to contribute every day

Being a doctor during this outbreak has been very overwhelming. I am a fresh graduate from an ophthalmology residency program at a private institution and was supposed to take the board exams this April. But because of the Covid-19 crisis, the exam was postponed indefinitely. So currently, I do not work in the hospital but I know in the future, there is a possibility that they may call me when the number of doctors on duty has already been significantly depleted by the virus.

I am not celebrating because the exams have been postponed. Instead, I take this as a call to act. I know I have the responsibility and the capacity to help out because this crisis is not a joke. Because of this quarantine and the lives that are at stake, I try not to waste time.

First, I make sure to protect my family, especially my parents. I decided to live with my girlfriend (Dr. C) for fear of possibly contracting the virus and exposing my parents to it. I try my best to learn about the virus every day by joining online groups and reading articles about Covid-19 preventive measures, and I pass on what I learn to others. A good source of information and opinion about the the crisis is health reform advocate Dr. Tony Leachon, who goes live on his Facebook every 2 p.m. I call my parents every day to check up on them, make sure they are okay, share what I have learned, exchange ideas on what we have acquired from the news, and always remind them not to go outside.

Second, I make sure that my girlfriend feels safe and gets enough rest because she is a frontliner. It is tough seeing her prepare for duty. As much as possible, I do all the errands to make sure the only thing she does at home is rest.

I wish I could take her place and protect her instead. But I can’t because we are from different hospitals. We’ve also set up a sterile zone at home and learned how to sterilize food packages from the grocery to decrease our chances of contracting the virus.

Lastly, I make sure to contribute every single day. I joined an online group of volunteers who do consultations for free on Covid-related health concerns (Lung Center of the Philippines CovidAsk Force). Our task is to cater to patients online. For me, this is the most effective way for doctors at home to help. You will be surprised that a lot more doctors are needed online because of the large number of inquiries we get. For consultations, you can visit: facebook.com/COVIDAskForce. And for doctors who want to volunteer to be available online, you can check out this link: bit.ly/covidaskforcevolunteer

Believe it or not, joining this group—and what I do for my family and for my girlfriend—is what keeps me going every day. There is a sense of fulfillment in knowing that you are doing your part. So I ask Filipinos to help each other and protect each other, in any way they can, because the future is uncertain. A simple gesture of correcting someone in the grocery store on how to wear a mask, for example, can save lives—while practicing social distancing, of course. Trust me, these little acts of service will change you too for the better.

I call my parents every day. I tell them I love them as much as possible. Because I don’t know if I might get the virus too, one day. I joined an online group of volunteers who do consultations for free for on Covid-related health concerns (Lung Center of the Philippines CovidAsk Force).