#PINK

Today, a lot of people asked me why I was wearing pink.  I had thought they complimented me that pink dresses suited me.  Apparently today, #PINK has become a political color.  #PINK is the color of VP Leni Robredo, who announced her presidential bid for 2022.

As a government employee, it is not recommended for us to express our political views.  We need to be politically correct and non-partisan.  We may however, exercise our right to vote.  Let our voices be heard through our votes.  It is sacred.  Let actions speak louder than words.

Mahal ko ang Pilipinas.  

Mahal ko ang Inang Bayan.

#PINK stands for hope.

HEALTH RESEARCH IN THE TIME OF COVID-19

It was in March 2020 when we first got our acts together for COVID-19 pandemic response, activating the COVID-19 Incident Command System and making lists on lists of things to do and checklists for logistics, creating algorithms and reviewing guidelines, frantically searching for research journal articles on this virus (most were in Chinese at that time). We feared what we didn't know. These days, we still don't want to get COVID-19 severe or critical pneumonia, but the chances of survival are greater because we know more about this disease now than we did back in the first quarter of 2020. Today, we even have vaccines that protect against severe and critical COVID-19 pneumonia.

The oratio imperata for the protection against COVID-19 also prays for the people tasked to find cures for this disease and to stem its transmission. In our basic health research class, we have an assignment to talk about our hero clinician-researcher whom we idolize. In outcome-based education, we have to keep the end in mind. So, we stand on the shoulders of giants to provide us with a vision of where we want to go and who we want to be.

Tonight, we look at the status of health research in the time of COVID-19. The pandemic has forced a lot of changes in how we do things - virtual meetings, online classes, food deliveries, cashless transactions and covered faces in public. How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect health research in the country? How do we move forward and create engineering changes to allow us to safely live WITH COVID-19?

Last week, the Philippine Virology Institute called for a meeting with alumni association of UP (UPMASA), the National Institute for Health, DOST-PCHRD, the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges (APMC) and different deans of the colleges of medicine, as well as the Philippine High School faculty and administration. As research efforts take a turbo boost forward to solve problems thru collaboration, networking, training and technology transfer, we look forward to exciting times when the country prioritizes and promotes careers in health research.

Join us tonight at #HealthXPH 9PM MLA time as we discuss health research in the time of COVID-19:

T1. Tell the story of a health researcher/clinician-scientist who inspires you.

T2. This COVID-19 pandemic spotlighted health research and health systems policy development. Suggest research programs needed to fill gaps in helping us live with COVID-19.

T3. How can we encourage young researchers to pursue a career in health research?

COVID-19 HIT HOME: the isolation (part 3)

After completing the full course of remdesivir, we were discharged to complete our 14-day isolation at home. 

We discovered boxing against a punching bag at the 3rd floor roofdeck. Posting on facebook, many suggested that I use boxing gloves.

We had wrist wrap and boxing gloves bought at the local store.

 

Work from home.

COVID-19 HIT HOME: the admission (part 2)

 

 

I could describe my hospital admission in two words: EVERYTHING HURTS!

I blame it on ultra-low pain threshold.  I am terrified of blood extractions.  I am deathly afraid of IV insertions (but ironically, I had to have three IV re-insertions in 5 days).  Arterial blood extraction is the worst!

More than this inner turmoil with needles, the joint and muscle pains were severe that I asked permission to take pain relievers throughout my first three days.

I could hardly eat solid food because my throat was so sore.  I mainly focused on making sure I was well-hydrated.  So thankful that the nurses would replenish my thermos with hot water for tea and coffee.

I received special deliveries of hot food, juices and cookies from OBGYN residents and consultants.  I appreciate the lugaw, garlic, ginger and fish tinola freshly prepared by our dietary section.  I also received turmeric tea powder from my neurologist.  

My hospital stay was also characterized by an outpouring of love from friends and co-workers in the hospital.  

I received baskets of fruits from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, from Dr Bala and the KAAMBAG Clinic Barbies, from the Department of Neurosurgery and from the Medical Social Services Section.

It was like Christmas when I also received "haplas" or liniment for aches and body pains.  Good thing the health workers coming in for rounds couldn't smell all the ointments and liniments I applied all around my body, as well as the salonpas strips... My muscles and joints were really so bad!

I couldn't help it, I also provided unsolicited advice (for improvement of our services) to our teammates.  Sir Adolfo just had to ask why it felt I was still working when I'm supposed to be a patient...

COVID19 hit home: the evacuation (part 1)

 

I hope I can complete this write up to document my personal COVID19 story.  For now, I will park the photos here so that I may remember.

August 29, 2021.  When my brother Jason suddenly reported high grade fever, cough, colds, body malaise and sorethroat, my gut feeling told me "this is it, COVID-19!" and when we explained to my niece MaJian that her daddy got the virus, it was heart-wrenching to hear her whispered prayer "I hope my daddy survives the virus.  I don't want him to die..."

Monday morning was a holiday, and we were supposed to get my brother swabbed, but with O2 sats as low as 90% and co-morbidities like obesity, hypertension, pre-diabetes and possible obstructive sleep apnea, we opted to have him admitted straight away instead for close monitoring and for medications.  His results came out RTPCR positive on August 31, 2021.

Knowing I had multiple exposures with a number of colleagues at work testing positive and my brother Jason also testing positive, I self-quarantined and got myself swabbed.  We evacuated our room at the hospital and stayed at home.  

I cannot describe the suspense waiting for my RTPCR results, but since I too started to develop ILI symptoms of fever, chills, cough, sorethroat, muscle and joint pains, I was hardly surprised when the results turned out RTPCR positive.  Gil, our driver also developed symptoms, but his O2 sats went down as low as 75%.  He was asthmatic too, so he was also advised hospital admission.

Sow Uterine Prolapse

 

I was woken up at 8am because of an obstetric emergency.  Our sow Carlita delivered 14 piglets and had uterine prolapse.  I had to do emergency manual reduction of the uterus (first time ko sa baboy).  I am not a veterinarian, but as an obstetrician, I know that it is important to keep the area sterile and to reduce the uterus as soon as possible and to replace fluid and blood losses, but how to do this for pigs?

Following a successful manual reducation, we did force feeding with electrolyte solution.  I was afraid of hypovolemic shock, but we didn't have intravenous solutions or IV lines.  I discovered from a friend who is a practicing vet that this is not practical for farms.  So we made do with what we had: home made hydrating solutions: 1 liter of water + 1 tbsp sugar + 1 pinch of salt, forcefed to Carlita.

By 2pm while we were getting supplies and meds from the city, our farm hand texted us that Carlita had already died.

We had to make sure all the other farm animals were fed at 4pm and that the 100kg sow was properly buried.  

Today is National Heroes' Day.

That sow Carlita literally gave her life for her piglets.  She died giving life to 14 beautiful piglets.

#carebears all the way

Parking here a very loving message from a friend, co-worker, patient advocate and over-all #carebear

Hi doc Helen

How are you? 

Today, I included you in my circle of prayer. I usually pick 10 of my friends on Facebook and include them in my prayers. 

I thank God for the blessing of having friends like you. I pray that God will continuously keep you safe and healthy. May you continue to be inspired to serve. 

Looking back through the years that you have been with VSMMC made me realize that it was Divine Providence that brought you here. God saw this pandemic coming and He carefully chose you for a purpose. He brought you here a few years back to help VSMMC cope with its challenges. 

This pandemic is not about seeing the worst of mankind. It's about believing in the goodness of people; seeing the best coming out of everyone. Care abounds. Love surrounds. 

I hope you stay strong and committed to your calling. Stay safe. 

God bless po. 

(the YouTube video is a wonderful Prayer Song we healthcare workers need to take heed at this trying time)

https://youtu.be/EgQ26sm0pkA

I can only imagine the burden you are carrying.  I pray for strength and courage.

#carebears all the way

P.S. Job Zechariah

I'll remember that name.

The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.