In Focus: Yanson matriarch recovering from Covid-19

TWO Yanson siblings, Ginnette Dumancas and Leo Rey Yanson, were grateful that their mother, Olivia V. Yanson or OVY, is recovering a lot better from coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

They were thankful to those who prayed for her, as she undergoes medical treatment at St. Lukes Medical Center since August 29 after she was physically unwell and later tested positive for coronavirus.

OVY was airlifted through an air ambulance from Bacolod Silay airport to Manila on August 29.

Ginnette shares that en route to Manila, she had this conversation with her mom.

The matriarch was asked if she would want to go to St. Luke's because she is unwell and she said in the affirmative but asked that she will first take a warm bath because she might stay in the hospital and could not enjoy the warm bath.

She even chose the dress she wore when she was airlifted to Manila.

Having her natural sense of humor, the Yanson matriarch was eager to see the plane (air ambulance) as to how big it was and how it looked like.

When she saw it, she was able to let out a "Wow," further asking her eldest daughter as to how much she had paid for the big plane.

But Ginnette jokingly replied that they were given senior citizen's rebate. She does not want her to worry about expenses.

"When we finally reached the plane, she was shocked when she saw a lot of people rushing down the car in full Personal Protective Gear (PPEs) and so she asked who are they? Why were they wearing those clothes? And What happened?" she narrated.

But the doctors on board started to check her heartbeat, oxygen saturation, pulse rate and asked her if she wanted to lie down or to sit up in the plane. She was overwhelmed with all of their questions and appearance.

"I knew that they will be suited up, but I too was surprised on what 'Gear Up for Covid' means," she added.

"Their medical team was composed of two doctors, four nurses and two crew members. She was safely settled in the plane sitting up while the doctor asked several questions to me and for me to fill up the forms. They asked her if they can put a line (dextrose) and she said there is no need. She was asked if they can put the ECG machine and pulse oximeter and she said yes.

She was given oxygen," the daughter further shared.

"The doctor kept on asking me about why we came from our house and not from the hospital. It seemed that Mommy Love is okay except for the low oxygen level, which is not so alarming. I told her that she wanted to be admitted at St. Luke's because her doctors are there. While I wanted to have her admitted before she will start to be weak and won't be able to endure the trip. I asked the doctor that if they have another scheduled trip and they said they only have a single trip per day because the plane needs to be properly disinfected which I think is good.

"I was able to sleep when the nurse told me that mommy was looking for me. And she asked if I brought her a blanket because the temperature is cold for her. Luckily, I brought two blankets. She was able to rest and in the last 10 minutes while we were about to descend, she wanted to lie down because she wanted to sleep, so they had to transfer all the equipment again, the oxygen, cardiac monitor and pulse and oximeter. We safely landed in Manila and I was told to go down ahead. I was directed to a foot bath where I thought was for the shoes to be disinfected but to my surprise, they disinfected everything, including your bags, suitcases anything and everything that we brought from Bacolod, including our suitcases.

"Analou and I wanted to ride the ambulance but we're told to ride the other car for it is already too crowded for the medical team. On our way to the hospital, Charles called and he confirmed that mommy Love was Covid positive, while Analou and I tested negative," she said.

Ginnette called her brother Leo Rey and told him about the devastating news about their mom. She could only hear his breathing and was silent.

"After a very long silence, LRY told me with a crack in his voice, 'Nang please do everything for Mommy.' I re-assured my brother not to worry," she said.

Now, all they need is to pray more for their speedy recovery of Mommy Love.

"Luckily, I have bunch and bunch of them. Thank you very much for all of your prayers for Mommy Love. All of us have our own crosses to bear, but I know that when I asked for your prayer for the speedy recovery of Mommy Love, you set aside your prayer supplications. God Bless us all," she said.