April 14, Tuesday – Evelyn did a grocery-shopping errand for her family. She was tired but was her usual self.
April 15, Wednesday, Morning – Evelyn complained to her sister, Denden, of her back pain. She rationalize it as just something ordinary and not to be alarmed about. She did her morning tasks routinely.
April 15, Wednesday, Late Evening – Evelyn messaged Denden to say she is experiencing a difficulty in breathing. Since Denden is not living with them and both elderly parents cannot go out because of the ECQ, Denden called for help to their barangay. Evelyn was rushed to the Emergency Room (ER) of Capitol Medical Center (CMC) in Quezon Avenue, Quezon City. She was accompanied by a cousin who lived near their home. Being swamped by the pandemic crisis, CMC turned them away. They found themselves at the ER of Providence Hospital (PH) in West Triangle, Quezon City. There, Evelyn was attended and observed. It was at this hospital that Evelyn was diagnosed through a blood test to have bacterial pneumonia and was advised to go home and just see a pulmonologist the following day.
April 16, Thursday, Afternoon – Evelyn was back to CMC in an ambulance with a referral to a pulmonologist from a Miriam College (MC) colleague’s husband doctor because she is having difficulty breathing. But, upon arrival at CMC, she was turned away for the second time, suggesting she be brought to the Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP). Evelyn’s family was then already anxious so they brought her to the Fe Del Mundo Memorial Medical Center (FDMMC) along Banawe Street, Quezon City. Doctor at the ER informed Denden that Evelyn was intubated as she was struggling to breathe.
April 17, Friday, Early Morning – Evelyn was unconscious and was transferred to Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
April 18, Saturday – While being strictly monitored in the ICU, Evelyn started medications. Dialysis was likewise started to relieve her body of toxins.
April 19, Sunday – Medication and dialysis continued for Evelyn. She is non-responsive but will open her eyes when pain-induced. Her blood pressure was high, but vital signs remain normal. Denden's relatives and Evelyn’s friends started sending voice messages through an MP3 player so that Evelyn will feel that she is not alone and people are eager to see her well.
April 20-22 – Critical days of Evelyn. No improvement on her condition. She started to have episodes of seizures and immune system was assessed to low and resistance is weak.
April 23, Thursday – FDMMC called Denden that Evelyn needs blood transfusion (PRBC, Type O+). Help came from a colleague from work and they were able to get blood from the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC).
April 24, Friday – Evelyn started to voluntarily (not out of reflex) open her eyes / wake up on her own. However, she remained unresponsive, which doctors explained this is normal for patients who are critically ill. Medication (antibiotics) continued and X-rays showed signs of improvement. Dialysis, likewise, continued, to help Evelyn’s body eliminate toxic substances (she was not normally producing urine).
April 26, Saturday – Evelyn clinically showed signs of improvement that her doctors set her life support/ventilator to 50% capacity (she was breathing partly on her own). Denden talked to Evelyn thru a nurse’s phone. Denden noticed Evelyn faint cry and the nurse confirmed that tears flowed from Evelyn’s eyes.
April 27-28 – Evelyn’s condition is improving. The life support/ventilator was set to 30-40%; Evelyn was almost breathing independently (60%-70% effort).
April 29-30 – Evelyn acquired second round of pneumonia (ventilator-associated pneumonia), which doctors explained is normal for critically ill patients to acquire while on prolonged life support.
May 2, Saturday – Evelyn was stable today. Dialysis continued on a daily basis. However, her pulmonologist shifted her back to 50% ventilator assist.
May 3-4 – Evelyn’s ventilator was set to the lowest setting. She showed more signs of improvement. She was given a new set of medication (antibiotics) as a result of her improved X-ray.
May 5, Tueday – Evelyn was very much awake. She opened her eyes when doctors came to check on her. Her vital signs remained stable; life support/ventilator was set to minimum. The medical team planned to remove her life support/ventilator with the approval of her pulmonologist.
May 6, Wednesday – Evelyn’s continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) still hooked on the ventilator but was on lowest setting. Blood tests were done to determine if she is exhaling on her own (producing enough carbon dioxide).
May 7, Thursday – Evelyn’s vital signs remain stable. Daily dialysis still continued to detoxify her body.
May 8-9 – Evelyn’s doctors ordered a computer topography (CT) scan to ascertain if she can be transferred to a regular room. Second COVID test came out negative.
May 10, Sunday – Early morning, Evelyn's doctor called the family to inform them that after the routine suctioning that day, they noted blood and that her body was "tired". This necessitated for a blood transfusion. Later in the day, Evelyn started having seizures, which the medical team noted as a sign that Evelyn might go "anytime". 11:20 pm, Philippine Time, Evelyn breathe her last and joined her Creator.
WE HOPE THAT YOU CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF EVELYN.
MAY SHE REST IN PEACE.
MAY SHE REST IN PEACE.
