GRECO BELGICA’S BRUSH WITH DEATH

We decided to give leronlimab, a new repurposed drug that has to be imported abroad. Ivermectin was increased to its maximum recommended dose in severe COVID; melatonin was likewise increased to the maximum dose of 600 milligrams in four divided doses (usual dose as a sleep aid is 1-3 mg); vitamin C was given at 100-gram infusions per day, and his intravenous steroid dose was also doubled.

Special-duty nurses were called in to assist at bedside so he could be closely monitored and his medicines given on time. COVID with moderate to severe ARDS requires precision medicine, as a small misstep can spell the difference between surviving and dying.

Megadoses

The next 48 hours seemed like eternity. Nina was scared every time her phone rang.

We gave Greco megadoses of all possible drugs that could help; but we believe that the real megablessing came from God.

The COVID clouds hovering around him started to clear.

Four days later, his oxygen level remarkably improved but still in hypoxemic range. He dressed up, propped himself up in front of his laptop and tablet, and led his staff at the PACC and other partner agencies in the virtual launch of the National Anti-Corruption Coordinating Council.

His special nurse was subtly monitoring his oxygen saturation levels, and he was mildly hypoxemic the entire time he was leading the ceremonies and meeting with his staff and representatives of partner agencies. He refused to put on his oxygen nasal cannula, and played his mind-over-body game well.

No one would have suspected they were meeting with a patient barely out of the dark woods of severe COVID-19.

We told him later that we were sure everyone would have understood if he skipped the proceedings because of his condition.

He answered: “I did not want to use my sickness as an excuse to not do what I promised the Filipinos I will do ... That is my commitment and I will do that as long as I can.”

Greco’s turning back from his COVID Rubicon is an inspiring story of what strong faith in God can do, especially when you feel you’re literally clutching at straws.

“I know that it was God at work and things will work out,” says Greco now as he looks back. “I was confident because I was seeing God moving in everyone’s heart and putting different people together—whom we did not know but are helping us.”

Despite his very low oxygen levels at some point, he remained conscious. “I generally knew what was going on—the situation and conflicts—because I was listening though half-asleep, but my mind was extraordinarily sharp. And I was determined to go through it and walk out of it.”

No fear

Greco felt that the Lord was with him the whole time and was giving him glimpses of what would happen next.

“That’s why there was no fear in my heart. But now learning what I went through, it would have been different if I knew the details of what I was going through then,” he says in jest.

Aside from Greco and Nina, another revelation in his near brush with COVID death was his mother—Dr. Meth. Normally, doctors would not want to be involved in the treatment of a critically ill family member because one’s judgment and decision-making could be blurred. She actually served as the medical officer, coordinating with all of the doctors. Such nerves of steel were truly amazing.

“It is all about God’s goodness and mercy,” she says. “I want to give Him all the glory.”

Indeed, such calmness and composure amid a high-pressure situation involving your own son can only come from a deep connection with God.

She shares: “So many times in the young lives of all my sons, death knocked, not once but many times. I had one son who died at age 1. From then on, I asked God, ‘Please, Lord, never again allow my sons to die before me’ ... I draw my courage from Him in moments like these, knowing that there are human errors even in hospitals. I made sure my presence is felt like a hawk among hospital staff ... My heart knew God will come through when my sons are in danger.”

Indeed, God came through in Greco’s case, as faithfully as He promised He would for his people who trust in Him. This is the kind of faith and humility that our nation needs to express now, so we could allow God to come through for us, as well as He did for Greco.