Covid-19 Survivor

 Wil Tolentino's ordeal and recovery
By Earl D.C. Bracamonte

“I am a Covid-19 survivor, and a lucky one at that!” declared entrepreneur Wilbert “Wil” Tolentino, during an online colloquy, after a grueling fortnight at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City. He is now on the road to full recovery, and living his second chance in life.

Wil’s ordeal started after posting a Facebook message about him contacting sore eyes. A physician friend messaged him an antidote while also telling him it could be a symptom to Covid-19. After undergoing a swab test from a private diagnostic center, he was relieved to find out that the results were negative.

However, when back and chest pains started to set in, not to mention being a hypochondriac, he underwent another swab test two days later from another clinic, just to be sure. When the results came, he was aghast to learn that he tested positive. So, he went into solitary confinement and started ingesting Chinese herbal remedies. He even isolated himself from his three-year-old son Willard so the kid wouldn’t get his ailment.

When his condition did not get any better, he went to the hospital and sought treatment. “I had a difficult time breathing. It looked like I was heaving every time I gasped for air. Heaviness filled my chest,” shared Wil. He was diagnosed with Covid-19 and a severe case of pneumonia plus a condition known clinically as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Wil was then intubated for the next three days inside the intensive care unit. “I hardly slept while the tubes were attached to my mouth. It felt like a soup ladle was shoved down my windpipe. It was not a nice feeling. And the whir of the machines only made me feel worse,” he continued.

During his hospital confinement, what made him hold on were the well-wishes of family and friends, aside from fervent prayers of his own. At one low point, he told close friends and relatives that, should he succumb to the disease, his son Willard will be left in the care of his brothers. “When you’re in a dark place, with the end not in sight, your mind can give you a lot of depressing thoughts. I now understand those who experienced panic and anxiety attacks. Everything weighs down on you,” Wil revealed.

When his ordeal was finally over, he could only single out all the doctors and medical professionals, as curative catalysts, who helped him and others survive all those dark nights. In recognition, and appreciation, of Filipino frontliners’ undying service to patients of the pandemic, most especially those who have survived it. Wil has invited all medical frontline professionals and workers to participate in “The Frontliners Online Challenge” wherein five entrants with the most compelling stories of hope and bravery will receive cash prizes. All they need to do is check out the contest’s mechanics on Wil’s Facebook page (Wilbert Tolentino) and look for the specific Sir Wil online challenge (as there are several) he/she wants to be part of.

Wil’s two-week hospital confinement has made him realize the brevity of life and allowed him to focus on the more important things to one’s existence, like faith in the Almighty. As a Covid-19 survivor, he is now a staunch advocate in spreading awareness to help curb the rise of the pandemic. “For instance, I would like to emphasize that people should never wear face masks with built-in fans like I used to wear. The fans suck in any airborne viruses into the mask which they’ll eventually breathe in and make them sick.” Wil is also donating his blood for St. Luke’s or the Red Cross’ supply of convalescent plasma.

As a pandemic survivor, Wil hopes to lessen the stigma, not only to those who have been diagnosed, but most especially to all those who have survived the ordeal. News stories often relate of Covid-19 survivors being evicted from their rented places of abode. And as one who went through valleys of anxiety and depression, he wants to help patients of the pandemic get through the dark days and, like him, breeze through towards full recovery.

Recently, the New York Times cited the Philippines as the country with a lesser number of Covid-19 cases that’s going lower, followed by South Africa, then Saudi Arabia.