Trigger Warning: The Attack of Covid19

I already shared before about our situation at home. This is kind of a continuation about what is happening now after a week. I can't find myself to sleep right now, nobody in the house seems to fall asleep and here's the reason why.

Last week, October 13, 2021, Wednesday, my brother in law's step father who is truly close in our hearts was admitted to the hospital for shortness of breath, pneumonia and his diabetes was also acting up. He has symptoms for Covid19 and so on October 15, Friday, we were informed about the result of his PCR test and it came back positive.

He was sent to Covid ward therefore none of us can come and take care of him. The hospital he was in is a public hospital so we understand that they can't update us very often so we only rely on calling the nurses to monitor our patient and patiently wait for the doctor's call to inform us about his health which only happened twice on his one whole week of stay there.

On October 21, Thursday, we received the doctor's second call and it was a good news. His pneumonia has gone better, if his oxygen will stabilized and if he'll force himself to eat some food, he will be discharged soon. But on the next day, our patient called us and asked us to transfer him to another hospital. It is so heartbreaking hearing him trying hard to speak because he's still having shortness of breath.

Still on the same day, we tried inquiring to other hospitals that are private around the city and the bad news is they have already reached their patient's capacity. He was listed as number 22 on the waiting list. We tried to another hospital and as much as I don't want any form of bias or favor, we couldn't help it but to seek help from a doctor that we know who works on that hospital. With their help, we were able to transfer there.

They transferred him to a private hospital earlier and the moment we says him, it was really heart breaking. Last Thursday, we received a good news saying he's soon to be discharged but his physical condition is so far from that. He is conscious but unresponsive. He couldn't even lift or straighten his arm, more so to move at all. He looks so thin and lifeless as we saw him, even just on the video.

He might be groggy because of the medications and also because he hasn't been eating well. He wasn't even able to eat all the food that we sent him during his stay on the hospital.

Because of that, they had to put an nasogastric tube or an NG tube in him. It is inserted through his nose, down to his throat and esophagus, and into his stomach. All his medications and foods will be liquified and will go through it. Hopefully, by doing that, by giving him foods, he will be able to regain his strength on the next few days.

Now here's another worry. Aside from his health, we are also worried about the hospital bills. Our bill from the public hospital is 52, 000 pesos or more than a $1000. That's already not a joke but that's way cheaper compared to private hospitals where he's in right now.

But of course, regardless of the bill, he deserves to have the best care. We can't continue to let him be alone. Right now, they are already on the private hospital, my sister was left there to monitor him. They are in a private room but there are boundaries for my sister's safety. She's also wearing a PPE for her protection. At least this way, he have someone to accompany him.

But what we're worrying about are the hospital bills. The room costs PHP50, 000 or $1000 per day. The medications and the doctor's fee are excluded. It's really heavy for us but what can we do if he keep worsening on the public hospital and that we're getting crazy and getting worried and worried each passing time waiting for the doctor's call to inform us about his health. Besides, the patient is the one who begged us to transfer him to another hospital.

Another problem is that we need our sister in here. Her children needs her, our business needs her. If we are going to hire a private nurse, we have to pay around $165 or PHP8, 500 per day. Now, our plan for tomorrow is to try looking for an outside individual who will agree to look after him in the hospital. The nurses from the hospital will do all the work, the only work of that one that we are going to hire is to monitor the patient's oxygen since it has to be replaced every hour. Hopefully, we could find someone who is willing to do that.

There are so much things that we are worried about but we have faith and we continue to hope in the Lord. He's our great healer and provider and I know and we have faith that we'll get through this.

Right now, we only resort to prayer to keep our minds and our hearts at peace.

Tonight, I will be sleeping with this verse from Matthew 6:34 saying "Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. ... Each day has enough trouble of its own."

What we need most right now is your prayers. That can be a huge help, actually, that is more than enough. Let us pray for his

• fast recovery

• for him to regain his strength

• also for financial resources.

We don't know where to get money for bills but God will provide. We just hope that his stay on the hospital won't be that long because if he stays in there for more than a week, we couldn't afford it.

Anyways, thank you so much for reading this and I hope you didn't feel to be carried away. Thank you so much for this platform for allowing me for this kind of content. I was able to let it all out and now I feel light. I have my hope in the Lord, there is nothing to worry about.

Thank you so much in advance for your prayers.

I appreciate you all. Thank you so much!

UPDATE: His sugar level is unstable, it tanked up earlier but it's going down now. Good news is that his oxygen is now normal so from high flow, it's now on 80%.

We already got a replacement for my sister that will accompany him to the hospital. So my sister can go home later once her antigen test came back negative.

As for the financial aspect, some relatives promised to help and praise God for giving us a good deal for the sale of our land. It's sad that we have to sell an asset but life is more important than that.

Your prayers for fast recovery will really be appreciated. Thank you all so much!

Article No. 154 - October 24, 2021