Sam Pinto and her family faced an unexpected health emergency while on vacation in Japan, as her husband, professional basketball player Anthony Semerad, fell seriously ill and had to be hospitalized.
The model-actress took to Instagram to share updates about his condition.
Initially, in her posts dated February 6 and 7, Sam mentioned that Anthony was experiencing high fever, chills, and headaches, which forced them to stay in their hotel room instead of doing their planned activities.
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The couple, who had been looking forward to exploring Tokyo with their toddler Mia Aya had to put their itinerary on hold.
Her caption read:
"Day 2 - Japan • Mostly eating and shopping day. P.S. Don't think there will be a Day 3 post. Anthony got sick last night, high fever, chills, and headache. So. Hotel lang and rest today," she wrote.
"By Day 3, she continued to document their trip, noting that they opted for a quiet day at the hotel, tending to Anthony while also making a quick stop for essentials.
"Chill and rest day at the hotel! For dinner, we had some tasty Family Mart ramen, took care of Anthony with his meds, highly recommend this hydration drink, made a quick stop at Donki to hunt for some makeup, and then treated ourselves to a lovely bubbly bath."
However, by February 10, Sam revealed the full extent of Anthony’s illness, explaining that his condition had significantly worsened despite medical consultations.
She detailed: "I appreciate everyone's concern. Anthony has been unwell since our second day here (February 5).
"He had a very high fever ranging from 39 to 40 degrees, along with chills, headaches, joint pain, loss of appetite, and nausea."
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SAM BRINGS ANTHONY TO THE HOSPITAL
Sam and Anthony initially planned to have a doctor visit their hotel on February 7 to assess the NLEX Road Warriors player.
Initial tests ruled out COVID-19 and influenza.
When his health continued to deteriorate, another consultation led to a round of antibiotics.
Unfortunately, his symptoms persisted, prompting Sam to call an ambulance.
Finding a facility that could admit him was quite a challenge, as most nearby hospitals were closed on Sundays.
Once admitted, blood tests revealed critically low white blood cell and platelet counts.
Although the local doctors were unable to diagnose him, Anthony's team doctor later confirmed that he had contracted dengue fever.
Sam recounted: "They performed a blood test and started IV treatment, revealing that his white blood cells and platelets were extremely low.
"The doctors here were unsure of the diagnosis, so they sent his results to his team doctor, who confirmed it was Dengue Fever.
"They provided medication for his headache and nausea, but instructed us to return to the hotel and allow him to rest.
"We focused on keeping him hydrated, encouraged him to eat, and ensured he got plenty of rest."
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Despite the challenges of managing the situation alone—with their toddler in tow and no household help—Sam made sure Anthony received proper care, all while enduring Japan's winter cold.
"He got Dengue from Manila. 4-7 incubation days. And his immune system is so low from the games, flying, traveling, hot to cold weather. Just got him," the 35-year-old celebrity mom explained.
The latest update from Sam: blood tests taken during a follow-up hospital visit showed that his platelet levels were still low.
In the meantime, the couple received an outpouring of support from fans and fellow celebrities who have sent well wishes for Anthony's swift recovery.
Sam and Anthony exchanged vows on March 8, 2021, in a picturesque wedding ceremony held at Conrad Manila's roof deck.
They began making their relationship public in 2018, then they got engaged in November 2019.
Their family grew on September 1, 2021, when Anthony happily announced on Instagram that Sam already gave birth to their first child—a beautiful baby girl named Mia Aya.
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