By Jade Aldrech Honrado
I am a Covid-19 survivor. I am a warrior!
As a survivor, I can say steam inhalation brought me no good. It caused me real harm. My doctor added that it is not advisable as it will cause burns from the heated water vapor - to eyes, face, airways from which if severe enough could cause seriously damaged and more complications like pneumonia.
Lungs are delicate, and inhaling steam is not a good thing. To reiterate, hot steam can and does damage the lungs.
My lungs were 70 percent damaged, 60 ABG - Atrial Blood Gas, 60 percent is not good enough for a person to survive. My vital signs were unstable and I was given 30 liters of initial oxygen as a start.
When I move slightly, I can hardly breathe. No exact word can describe how much I've struggled, my heart was pounding hard, beats getting worst as it was too fast and my sugar level spikes high.
I feel like my face was burning as if I'm going to explode. It came to a point I told myself, "Jade, you have to breathe to survive, open your eyes." I was about to pass out, I can hear people screaming, rushing with machines. It feels like I was trapped in a net, caught off guard. Doctors and nurses started to revive me, I was sedated then, eventually intubated.
Based on contact tracing, it started last June 29, 2020. Tracers believe I got it in the neighboring barangay where there were several people in a bank, particularly in an ATM line.
A day after, I started chilling, no sense of smell, taste, and I got some cough and flu. On the next day, I experienced difficulties in breathing. In the evening of July 4, they rushed me to the hospital, got me tested, and unluckily I was positive for Covid.
All the members of our family in the house, had themselves tested too, and thank God, all of their results came out negative.
I spent 12 days in the hospital (10 days in intubation) under critical care. It was a very close call. Surviving this ordeal only proves that GOD is merciful.
Following my recovery, I am spending more time with my family, living each day as if it is my last. This virus will try to break you into pieces, but we have to trust in God and have faith.
Remembering my family gives me a strong mindset. To my loved ones, relatives, friends, your untiring support, and prayers helped me survived. I still have a mission to make and achieve to inspire others. Live life to the fullest. The threat of this virus is real. Covid-19 is real.
My extreme appreciation to all Frontlines in CDUH who took care of me holistically, my prayer warriors, support from family, friends. Now, I can donate my A+ plasma. I survived!
Keep on advocating others the importance of staying at home, proper wearing of face mask, observance of at least one-meter physical distancing, proper handwashing or hand rubbing with alcohol-based sanitizers, and proper coughing and sneezing etiquettes.
To my Doctors who helped me survive my fight against Covid-19, thank you, Dr. Ma. Florema Sy-Garcia my Cardiologist, Dr. Gerald Garcia, Pulmonary Medicine, Dr. May Joy Canillas-Amancio, and Dr. Geraldine Lim of Pulmonary and critical care.
Eternal Father, please keep my family, friends, relatives, and all frontliners safe. Cover them with your mantle of protection and save us all from this deadly virus. In Jesus Name. AMEN!
And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. - James 5:15 KJV