Yana Bautista, incoming Ateneo freshman and football player, dies of COVID-19

Yana Bautista, an incoming freshman and newly recruited football player for Ateneo de Manila University, died on Wednesday due to complications of COVID-19. She was 17.

Her sister Martie Bautista, Philippine women’s national football team forward, shared the news on her Facebook account.

“These past few months have been difficult for Yana. She was diagnosed with ADEM that was further complicated by COVID-19. Many challenges continued to surface where much of them left us extremely exhausted—especially for my little sister,” said Martie.

Yana also suffered from Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis or ADEM, a rare inflammatory disease targeting the central nervous system.

She took a swab test on Saturday, which yielded a positive result, and had been confined in intensive care unit until she passed away.

“Yana had a lot of things planned out for this year. She had high hopes booting up for Ateneo as she was expecting to come in as a freshman this August. Yana was also thrilled planning for our future trips abroad as a family. Overall, we knew how exhilarated she was to learn how to drive as this September would mark her 18th birthday,” said her sister Martie.

“She was a captain, teammate, friend, sister, and daughter,” she added. – RC, GMA News