My Covid journey

On July 31 last year, I had symptoms of headache, back pain and nasal congestion. At first thought, I had the flu, so I isolated myself from other family members. On August 3, I was scheduled for a swab for RT-PCR for the Covid-19 test. The result would be available the next day. The Delta variant was on the rise then. 

I kept testing my sense of smell since the loss of smell was an outstanding sign when one has the Covid-19 virus. That night, I began to notice that my sense of smell deteriorated because the menthol liniment smelled less intensely than the last time I used it. 

“Lord, if I am infected, let it only be me and not the other members of my family and make me surpass its course. Give me the grace to carry on,” I prayed. All sorts of thoughts come to my mind. The next day, panic struck me when I did not smell the garlic from the fried rice being prepared by our helper. This was followed by the call to disclose to me my test result. My test was positive for the Covid-19 virus. 

My initial reaction was: why me? I wondered from whom and where I got the virus? I had stepped up my protective equipment. I made it a point to wear my face mask and shield when I went out of the house. 

I had to prepare my things because the ambulance driver would fetch me to be assessed in the hospital anytime after lunch. So, I braced myself and prayed. “Lord God, if this is your will and with your love and grace, together we can do this!” That was the beginning of the calmness I felt inside. 

I finished my breakfast and packed up my things. The next thing I did was to leave the important papers, my wallet, cards and all to my daughter. This was the very first time that I had to do this. There was no alternative. It is a good thing we now have the Internet. I had to do this by video call so that we did not talk face to face. 

When I was done with all these, I prayed to have an honest talk with my God. Did I ask him why and how? I remembered that he alone was in control of all these. 

I thought at that moment that God wanted me to take better care of myself. For the past weeks, before that happened, I had to attend webinars here and there that I had lacked sleep and rest. It was only during the 14 days of my hospital admission that I could find and enjoy peace. 

I had everything endorsed to my daughter. Doctors, nurses, and people around me were taking good care of me. Thank you to them all. This was also the first time in my life that I felt worry-free, because I surrendered all to the Lord. 

I was also reminded by what my dear mother often tells me when there are a series of challenges, “All these will come to pass,” she said. In the end, we come out victorious, strengthened by God’s grace and love. 

Later, I knew that some of my friends and colleagues were also admitted on the same floor where I was. I began to connect with them. Again, thanks to the Internet, connections and sharing of situations were made more accessible. It was also an opportunity to share the links to the online Mass with them. I even shared some youtube walking exercises to prevent blood clotting in the peripheral blood vessels if we do not move. 

Amid these uncertainties and pains I had been through, I realised these were opportunities for me to participate in the Passion of Jesus on the Cross. I thank God for this life and its perks of ups and downs, to be able to enjoy the salvific value of my suffering by uniting them with those of Jesus on the Cross. After all, there is always a purpose for all these happenings. 

In anything I do, anywhere I go, whomever I am with, I always have to remember that Jesus brings me in the here and now, along with him. 

              

Ma. Rosario Rote-Tejada