Doctor in critical condition after testing positive for COVID-19 anew days after recovery

A doctor is currently in critical condition after being infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) for the second time just days after recovering and testing negative.

In an episode of “Juan Love,” Dr. Jerome Senen narrated the story of his family’s struggle as his wife Dr. Karen battled COVID-19.

According to Jerome, his wife was the only neonatologist in their area of practice in Valenzuela and in March there was an increase in the number of premature babies born.

“And then eventually ayon na nga dumadami na iyong nagiging mga kaso ng COVID hanggang sa eventually PGH was turned into a COVID center,” Jerome narrated.

Jerome said since Karen became a consultant, she started to get burned out.

“And I think it’s one of those factors kung bakit nga siya tinamaan ng sakit. Pagod and stress din aside from being exposed to the virus,” he said.

In June, Karen was admitted for COVID-19.

According to Jerome, Karen underwent an X-Ray and they eventually found out that she had mild pneumonia.

Karen started feeling better while she was getting treatment at the hospital.

Jerome said after she received convalescent plasma therapy, they finished another two weeks in the hospital for clearance.

On July 1, before she was discharged, Karen did another swab test and it came back negative.

“Malaki na yung improvement after nun. We are really happy. So after 23 days sa hospital, we were finally going home,” Jerome said.

However, just two days after being discharged from the hospital, Karen started to feel symptoms again.

“Nawalan siya ng pang-amoy, nawalan siya ng panlasa, nawalan siya ng ganang kumain and then nakaramdam na ulit siya ng hingal, pero this time around kasama na ang fever na napakataas. Nagfo-40 siya,” said Jerome.

He said they went back to the hospital on July 10.

“Bumabagasak talaga ’yung oxygen niya sa blood, so they had to put her on a high-flow oxygen,” he said. “Another swab was done on admission and unfortunately, positive ulit ang kinalabasan noon.”

According to the “Juan Love” episode, studies have shown that getting reinfected with COVID-19 may be more dangerous.

“A few days later mga early morning of Monday, July 13, sobrang bumababa na talaga yung oxygen levels niya sa blood, talagang hirap na hirap na siya, hindi na kayang i-sustain iyong high-flow nasal cannula na binibigay nila for her,” said Jerome.

“So they decided na they have to intubate her day by day. Parang nagwo-worsen talaga iyong status niya,” he added.

While Karen was in ICU, Jerome stayed inside a room at the hospital for his wife and paused his duties as a doctor and frontliner.

“Every time na makaka-receive ako ng not so good news, ang una kong naiisip yung family ko, kids ko, sila yung unang naiisip ko. Inaalis ko sa mind ko ’yung negative thoughts ko na baka hindi tayo manalo,” he said.

On July 22, Jerome had a simple birthday surprise for his wife. She was still in critical condition then at the ICU.

“Akala ko kakayanin ko iyong makita iyong maraming maraming nakakabit sa kaniya na life support kasi sanay naman ako as a doctor, pero kapag asawa mo na iyong nandoon, iba,” he added.

Karen had to be on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or use an ECMO machine, which costs Php 750,000.

Jerome’s high school friends started a fund-raising project for the couple by creating digital art projects.

According to the episode, Karen is still in critical condition, but the family is hopeful for a recovery.

Karen is just one of the COVID-19 patients who were reinfected after recovering.

On Sunday, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said he again tested positive for COVID-19. – Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/RC, GMA News