JERRY OLEA
Bago ako natulog nitong Marso 23, Martes ng madaling-araw, nabasa ko ang Facebook post ni Direk Jason Paul Laxamana tungkol sa kanyang pagiging COVID-19 survivor.
Eksaktong 1:24 a.m. iyon ipinost ni Direk Jason Paul.
Si Jason Paul ay direktor ng mga pelikulang Between Maybes (2019), Just A Stranger (2019), 100 Tula Para kay Stella (2017).
Lahad niya: "Last March 17, my swab test came back positive.
"The symptoms were mild at first. I've had worse bacterial/viral infections in the past. I thought the peak of my sickness was when I had a fever accompanied by chills. All it took was a tablet of paracetamol and, voila, I woke up the next day feeling fine.
"But then I noticed something happening inside my chest. It was getting hard to breath.
"Inhaling deeply was becoming challenging, as it either triggered an itch in the chest, resulting in coughing; or no matter how deep I inhaled, I didn't feel I was getting enough air in my lungs.
"Must be the cytokine storm I kept reading in covid-related articles."
Ang cytokine storm ay tumutukoy sa matinding immune response ng katawan kunsaan sa halip na makatulong ang paggalaw ng cytokines o cell agents para labanan ang impeksyon o virus ay inaatake nito ang mismong cells at tissues.
Sa pagpapatuloy ng kuwento ni Direk Jason Paul, lubha raw siyang nag-alala sa posibilidad na ikamatay niya ang pagdapo sa kanya ng COVID-19.
"I was afraid to sleep. I kept thinking of my severe obstructive sleep apnea, which, when partnered with difficulty in breathing, can only result in death as I sleep.
"Not to mention my fatness.
"There were nights I found myself teary-eyed—no, crying—in bed in the dark; how, if I fail to wake up, no one will find out until my body is maybe a one-week-old corpse already.
"Must be the lack of air in my system.
"But there were days I found myself unshaken by the thought of dying.
"As a suicide attempt survivor a decade ago, being intimate with the idea of death is a scenario I am very much familiar with."
Hanggang sa pilit daw pinatatag ng direktor ang sarili.
"After letting all the drama out of my system, I just found myself going through the motions.
"Hard to breathe? Stay still and avoid moving a lot. Gasping for air while sleeping? Deal with it and sleep again if awakened.
"Night sweats? Sleep with a towel over your pillow.
"My sense of taste did not disappear, but there were days I felt my tongue wasn't performing 100%.
"I was very close to having myself admitted in a state-run covid facility, but the uncertainty of the existence of wifi in those places prevented me from calling the barangay health workers. After all, I was alternately binge-watching ‘The World of the Married’ and ‘Attack on Titan’ while suffering.
"Last morning, however, I woke up with freer airways. Inhaling deeply is now possible, albeit I still have thick mucus in my chest.
"I feel more energetic now, though the night sweats still haunt me midsleep. Either they're part of the covid experience, or summer nights are just getting hotter. My sense of taste is back.
"I guess the worst is over for me.
"Thank you to friends and family who sent me stuff to keep me nourished during my quarantine."
Anim na araw mula nang malamang positibo siya sa COVID-19, bumuti na raw ang pakiramdam ni Direk Jason Paul.
"And now, back to regular life, but armed with yet another experience of flirting with the idea of death.
"I have no epiphany to share about this episode of my life, sorry.
"I guess as you grow older, you just accept the fact that life can fuck with you sometimes, the same way it can occasionally shower you good fortune. All random."
Kalakip ng Facebook post ni Jason ay ang litrato niyang may suot na continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine.
Wala itong kinalaman sa COVID-19.
Gamit daw niya ito para sa kanyang sleap apnea, o isang uri ng sleeping disorder kunsaan makailang ulit na panandaliang humihinto ang paghinga ng isang tao habang natutulog.
Sabi sa disclaimer ni Jason: "What I'm wearing in this photo is a CPAP machine. It has nothing to do with covid.
"But I think it helped me get oxygen during those nights I found it very challenging to breathe."
Nominadong best director si Direk Jason Paul sa 4th Eddys para sa pelikulang He Who Is Without Sin na tinampukan nina Elijah Canlas at Enzo Pineda.
Kagabi, Marso 22, Lunes sana ang premiere streaming ng 4th Eddys sa FDCP Channel.
Ipinagpaliban iyon at sa Abril 4, Linggo ng Pagkabuhay, na magpi-premiere.
Paggising ko nitong Martes ng umaga, ang bumungad sa akin sa Facebook ay ang post ang aktres na si Jenny Miller kaugnay sa pagpanaw ng tiyo niya at kaibigan kong si Vic Naynes. Kaso rin ito ng COVID-19.
Halos kasabay ni Jenny na nag-post si Direk Jason Paul sa FB.
Lahad ni Jenny (published as is): "Grabe hanggang ngayon di ako makapaniwala wala ka na Tito Victor Naynes.
"nag flashback lahat sa kin lahat ng hirap natin while I was starting pa lang sa showbiz, lahat ng tawanan, lahat ng iyakan, lahat ng away.
"Nanghihinayang ako dahil napakabata mo pa, napakarami mo pa pwede matulungan.
"Naalala ko pa magkausap lang tayo last week dahil sabi mo baka meron new project for me dasal dasal lang sana matuloy.
"Sabi ko pa mag diet ka, magpapawis ka kc lumalaki ka mahirap na lalo na Covid kaya doble ingat.
"Tumatawa ka pa sabi mo bakit ang sweet ko sa yo? Yun na pala last time natin pag uusap.
"Naiinis ako, nagagalit ako sa nangyari pero wala ako magawa ... siguro nga it’s your time na.
"Rest in peace na Tito. I know you’re in a better place now in heaven. Be our angel there.
"Lagi mo kami bantayan ni Ruby Naynes and wag ka mag alala sa beautiful daughter mo, dito lang ako for her.
"Maraming salamat Tito sa mahabang panahon na pagsasama, pag gabay at pagkakaibigan ... mahal kita. Pahinga ka na."
NOEL FERRER
COVID-19 is real and it is really a worsening scenario.
Nabahala ako sa interview sa former DOH Secretary Manuel Dayrit na nagsabing with the rate things are going, baka hindi kayanin ng ating mga hospital na asikasuhin ang severe at critical cases.
He also said that we should look at the possibility of home care should we acquire the dreaded illness. Ingat-ingat talaga tayo.
Sa huli’t huli, tayo-tayo na lang talaga ang magtutulungan.
GORGY RULA
Ang dami pang nakakalungkot na kuwentong-COVID-19 na hindi ko lang maibahagi at baka ayaw ng mga taong involved na ibalita pa.
Mas kailangan nila ngayong mapanatag ang kalooban nila kesa sa gambalain pa sila ng mga tawag at text na makakadagdag stress.
Kaya isama na lang natin sila sa ating mga dasal na malagpasan iyon ng mga taong nagka-COVID at hindi na makahawa.
May ilang pulitiko akong nakausap, hindi na rin nila alam kung paano nila mapagbigyan ang mga humihingi ng tulong lalo na sa paghahanap ng hospital.
Nahihirapan na rin sila at hindi na nila alam kung saang hospital pa ang puwedeng tumanggap ng pasyente.
Kaya patuloy lang talaga sa pagdarasal na matapos na ito at tuluy-tuloy na sana ang pagdating ng mga bakuna.
Note: May handang makinig at tumulong sa mga taong dumaranas ng depression. Tumawag sa mga hotlines ng The Hopeline Project sa (02) 804-HOPE (4673), sa 0917 558 HOPE (4673), o sa 2919 (toll-free number sa lahat ng Globe at TM subscribers).