Brother of nurse who passed away due to COVID-19 has one Christmas wish: 'Follow protocols'

For the families of the frontliners who passed away due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), celebrating Christmas will probably never be the same again.

No amount of gifts would bring their loved ones back, but still, they do have one thing to add to their Christmas wish list.

They would like nothing more than for everybody to stay vigilant and honor the sacrifices made by the healthcare workers who died on duty.

"'Yun na lang yung panalangin ko, na sana sumusunod sila sa mga protocols," said Dr. John Paul Ner, whose younger brother, Nurse Joey, succumbed to COVID-19 in September.

Joey, 30, was considered low-risk due to his age and his good state of health, but he passed away after only one week of showing symptoms for COVID-19.

His family is still coming to terms with their loss, and sometimes they still think Joey is just on extended duty at the East Avenue Medical Center.

The youngest of four children, Joey is terribly missed as the "life of the party" in their home.

John Paul said their family is taking it one day at a time and urged the others who are grieving like them to stay strong.

"Kaya ako nakakatawid sa mga nangyari is because of God. Wag lang sila mawawalan ng faith kay Lord," he said. —MGP, GMA News