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Pinoy nurse cares for fiancée who tests positive for COVID-19


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A Pinoy nurse has ended up caring for his own fiancée after she tests positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In a “Tunay na Buhay” special online series episode on Wednesday, Pasay City General Hospital epidemiology and disease surveillance unit nurse Miko Llora shared that Angela Rivera was diagnosed with the disease back in March.

Although it could expose him more to the disease than he already was, Miko stood by Angela’s side and became her personal nurse for 30 days.

“So nag-positive siya, then ako close contact niya, kailangan ko rin mag-quarantine,” Miko explained. “Nandoon lang siya sa taas, sabi ko sa kaniya ‘don’t worry ako na ‘yung bahala sa lahat.’”

Angela, who serves as psychiatric resident at the National Center for Mental Health for three years now, shared that she started feeling sick while she was at work.

“Noong una talaga cough and colds lang so akala ko baka allergy ko lang, kaya lang ’yun nga, dahil meron threat ng COVID, baka makahawa ako,” she said.

Miko grew even more worried for Angela since she also had asthma.

“Alam natin ’yung COVID isa ’yan sa mga binabantayan kasi nga respiratory problem. Ang pinaka-struggle namin diyan every day baka ma-trigger ’yung asthma niya,” he said.

Miko said he himself broke the news to Angela that she had COVID-19. Since he was a disease surveillance nurse, he also handled the office’s official address where the results were sent.

“Ang dami kong naka-interact noong time na asymptomatic pa ’ko, so the first thing na ginawa ko noong nalaman ko siya, nag-text blast ako sa mga tao,” Angela said.

Although she felt isolated since she was diagnosed positive, Angela was grateful for her fiancé.

“’Yung sense of isolation, ’pag nag-positive ka sobrang intense. Pero knowing na meron kang kasama doon sa hirap na ’yun, nakakagaan siya ng loob,” she said. “Feeling ko na secured ako."

The beginning of their love story

Miko and Angela first met each other when they were both students at De La Salle Health Sciences Institute.

Both active in student council, they eventually parted ways in 2009.

However, fate seemed to have other plans because seven years after they last saw each other, they met again by chance at a restaurant.

Their friendship again blossomed, this time with the help of music.

“Talagang masaya lang talaga siyang kasama noong time na ’yun, kasi nga parehas kami ng interest,” Angela shared.

By 2017, they were both members of the band “Hey Moonshine,” where Angela was the backup vocals and Miko was the road manager.

The two soon fell in love and in January 2019, Miko proposed to Angela.

Angela said yes and the two were supposed to tie the knot next year, but they decided to postpone it due to the pandemic.

“Nagpa-plan na kami na medyo gumawa ng changes kasi personally I don’t think na any time soon mababago ’tong situation natin,” Miko said.

Angela shared that especially since both of them were in the health field, they didn’t want to risk everyone’s safety.

Their plans further changed when Angela herself was diagnosed with the disease.

It tested even further how much Miko meant it when he promised to “hold and to cherish” Angela “in sickness and in health.”

End of the battle

Fortunately, Angela tested negative for COVID-19 this May.

“Sobrang parang ang laking tinik na natanggal sa ’yo kasi alam ko na mas safe na rin ’yung ibang tao pag nakasalamuha ako. Napakalaking comfort knowing na negative na po,” she said.

As soon as Angela recovered from the disease, she dedicated her time in assisting other frontliners. With the help of a group she organized with other healthcare workers, Angela was able to donate over 30 bicycles to other frontliners.

“Noong nag-start po ’yung lockdown, travel restriction, ako mismo po nahirapan din akong mag-travel to work, so naghanap ako ng alternative means of transportation,” she said. “So initially, manghihiram lang ako dapat ng bikes sa mga friends ko. Tapos surprisingly, sobrang daming taong wiling tumulong.”

Although Angela and Miko had to adjust their wedding date, it was enough for them that Angela survived the disease.

She said, “Masuwerte lang talaga po na mild lang ’yung symptoms, but sobrang laking tulong po talaga lalo kong na-treasure ’yung samahan po namin.”

“Nakikiusap po ako na sana ho instead na kutyain natin or pandirihan, mas mahalin natin, pagdasal natin, tulungan natin,” Miko added. – Kaela Malig/RC, GMA News

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