Steadfast in her faith

DEPRESSION. While in isolation, Aimee Guinita experienced guilt and depression, blaming herself for what happened and how it affected her family, the people she worked with, and those with who she had contact. (Photo by Aimee Guinita)
DEPRESSION. While in isolation, Aimee Guinita experienced guilt and depression, blaming herself for what happened and how it affected her family, the people she worked with, and those with who she had contact. (Photo by Aimee Guinita)



"Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."

Psalm 23:4



BROADCAST journalist Aimee Guinita was shocked and confused after she tested positive for the Sars-CoV-2, the virus causing the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

It was 7 a.m. on November 5, 2020, when she received a call from an unknown number.

"Hi Ma'am si Dr... ni sa SPMC (Southern Philippines Medical Center) naa na bay nanawag sa imo gabii Ma'am regarding sa imong result? (Hi ma'am, this is doctor... of SPMC. Has somebody called you last night regarding your test results?)" the caller said.

"Wala po Dok, result sa RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) test po, Dok? (None, doc. Is this about my RT-PCR test?)" Guinita said.

"Yes po, ma'am. Positive ka po, ma'am. Prepare lang po ta sa atoang gamit ma'am ug manawag po ang Opcen (Operations Center) para musundo sa imo (Yes ma'am, you have tested positive. Please prepare your things. Someone from Opcen will pick you up)," the caller said.

Guinta said she could not believe what she heard, saying it seemed "impossible."

"Ngano man nga grabe man nako kaamping sa pila ka bulan sukad nag-outbreak? (How could have this happened because I have been very careful since the outbreak began?) I did all my best to strictly follow all the health and safety protocols but still the virus hit me. Pirti nakong paningkamot, bahala'g kapoy gikan sa trabaho maligo ko usa musulod og balay, mag-disinfect pa kay akoang Mama 60 na ug naay mga bata pa gyod sa amoa (I did my best to be careful. Despite being tired from work, I would take a bath before entering our home and disinfect because I have a mother who is 60 years old and we have children living with us too)," Guinita said.

In her public Facebook post, Guinita said she started to developed signs and symptoms related to Covid-19 -- extreme headache, runny nose, dry cough, and chills -- around November 2, 2020. She told the doctor about it and was advised to take an RT-PCT test.

After receiving news of being tested positive for the virus, she called her mom to inform her of the current situation. Her mother attempted to enter her room.

"Ma ayaw'g sulod ha. Diha lang ka kay naa koy iingon... ma, positive ko sa Covid maoy result (Don't enter the room. Just stay outside. I have something to tell you. I tested positive for the coronavirus)," she said.

Despite trying to stop her mom from entering her room, she still entered to comfort her daughter.

"'Kung matakdan, matakdan gud. (If I get infected, I will get infected).' Those were the words of my mother as she tried to comfort me," Guinita narrated on her Facebook post on November 22, 2020.

The barangay placed their residence under lockdown. Relatives had to temporarily stop working and their livelihood has been put on hold.

"Naluya ko ug nakahugno ko. I failed, nahadlok ko para sa akoang pamilya, mag-unsa nalang ming tanan ani karon (I felt like everything was crashing down on me. I failed. I feared for my family. What will we do now)," Guinita said.

On the same day she received the news, personnel in personal protective equipment (PPE) picked her up and an ambulance brought her to SPMC. When she arrived at the hospital, they guided her to an isolation facility.

"Ma'am stay strong po," she was told.

It was at the isolation facility where she broke down.

"Pirti nakong hagolhol (I was crying hard)," Guinita said.

Together with other patients who tested positive for Sars-CoV-2, they waited at the isolation facility to be attended to.

"Adunay mga naka-oxygen nga tigulang, adunay mga naka-wheel chair nga gihatod sa usa ka frontline worker sa portable nga banyo, ang uban sige'g paabot aron ma-admit kay puno ug walay bakante nga ward ug ICU, adunay sad mga batan-on, ang uban kaistorya ang ilahang mga pamilya sa cellphone," Guinta said.

(Some elderly patients were wearing oxygen masks, some were in wheelchairs. Others were still waiting to be admitted because the ward and intensive care unit beds [ICU] were full. Some patients are still young and others were on the phones talking to their families about their situation.)

It was 2 a.m. on November 6 when she was transferred to a temporary treatment and monitoring facility (TTMF).

Depression, guilt

Aside from dealing with Covid-19, Guinita also had to battle depression and guilt.

"Pila pa ka days usa ko nibangon sa higdaanan human sa sige'g hilak ug way puas nga pagbasol sa akoang kaugalingon that I tested positive sa Covid-19. DILI KO KADAWAT. (It was several days after that I got up from the bed. I was crying and blaming myself for testing positive for the coronavirus. I could not accept what was happening)," said Guinita, who was tagged as DR-5989.

She said she and her family received hurtful words after what happened.

"I even got texts from an unregistered number nga unta matiwasan daw ko ug tagam daw nako kay tungod sa akoa nadaot ang operation sa amoang work. MAS SAKIT PA MA-DISCRIMINATE LAGI KAYSA MA-COVID (I even got texts telling me that this should be a lesson for me and I deserved this because I disrupted operations at work. It hurts more to be discriminated against than getting Covid-19)," Guinita said.

She was crying non-stop and almost gave up at the facility, blaming herself for what happened.

"Sa tanang kauban nako sa trabaho ug mga nakauban nako (To those at work and I had contact with) for the last 14 days, I am deeply sorry for whatever I have caused you and to your families. Again, I sincerely apologized for testing positive, everyone," Guinita said.

Yet, instead of simply giving up, she drew strength from her faith.

A battle won by prayer

Feeling helpless and hopeless, she surrendered everything to God.

"There are moments when I closed my eyes I only see a rope, but whenever that happens, I bow my head, cry, and ask God to help me surpass these trials and strengthen me even more against the unseen enemies," Guinita said.

She said throughout her recovery period and her time at the TTMF, she said the Lord allowed her to experience miracles while facing "the darkest days" of her life.

"He showed me His love, comfort and mercy. And He wiped every tear from my eyes," Guinita said.

In isolation, she was able to strengthen her faith in the Lord.

"Gi-remind ko niya nga siya ang labing makagagahom ug walay bisan unsang kasakit dinhi sa kalibutan ang makalabaw sa iyahang paghigugma (It was a reminder that He is the almighty and no sickness can stop Him from showing His love for us)," Guinita said.

She said the Lord used people around her to help her get through the isolation.

"Dakong tabang kaayo sa akoang pag-recover ang constant nga communication, tawag, video chats, texts sa mga friends and loved ones samtang naa ko sa kwarto naginusara ug makabungog ang kamingaw (My constant communication with friends and loved ones through video chats, calls and texts helped me recover and not feel alone in the room)," Guinita said.

The staff assigned at the TTMF were also saying encouraging words to her and other Covid-19 patients like "Fight!" or "Laban lang! (Keep fighting)."

Recovered

After 14 days of isolation at the TTMF, the Department of Health (DOH) released and certified her as a "Covid-19 survivor."

"Some battles are won in prayer. After 14 days of isolation, finally, DOH declared me as a Covid-19 survivor. Thank you Jesus for another life!" Guinita said.

She also thanked frontliners for their unwavering service and hard work.

"To all our valiant frontline health workers, doctors, nurses and staff, my heartfelt gratitude. Daghan kaayong salamat kaninyong tanan (Thank you so much). My snappiest salute!" Guinita said.

She also thanked people who have been with her on her path to recovery.

"To all the people who constantly encourage me, believes in me, show their endless support, genuine love, telling me that I am not alone and that I should never give up, from the bottom of my heart, Thank you!" Guinita said.

She also encouraged those who are going through the same situation to not lose hope.

"To my fellow Covid-19 warriors, stay strong! Laban lang! God is with us in this battle! Don't give up!" she said.

Don’t discriminate

She also urged the public to not discriminate Covid-19 patients and those who have recovered from it.

"The virus does not discriminate, neither should we. This is not the time to blame, shame and discriminate anyone, especially Covid-19 patients, their families, frontline health workers, and all our frontliners," she said.

"We should always remember that we are facing an unseen enemy. Together, let's fight and help prevent the spread of this dreaded disease so we could save more lives," she added.

"To see is to believe? Covid-19 is real. I pray that you are safe from the virus and your entire family," Guinta said.

She also reminded the public to be extra careful and follow health safety protocols.

"For as long as there's still no vaccine and cure for this deadly virus, please let's religiously follow the health protocols. Let's unite in prayers that soon this pandemic will end. Stay safe and healthy, everyone," Guinta said.

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