Wearing the Cape of the FrontFighters in Defiance of COVID-19 Triumph

What does it mean to be a hero in this time of havoc? What does it feel like to be at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19? What does it feel like to be responsible for so many lives and having no control over what happens?

As seconds slip by, frontline workers are not just breaking physically but also mentally.

“A lot of us are just done. We can't keep up with the surge.” – Alvy Q.

Hospitals are in crisis with the brimming COVID-19 patients and it is taking a toll on the healthcare system especially to the doctors, nurses, and other health care staff.

This pandemic has put an immense pressure and stretched the capacity of nurses like Alvy. “Before COVID-19, I would do a 6 day 12 hour shift and I would cover one patient in the ICU. When the pandemic hit, I took care of almost five patients with severe Covid-19 almost 24/7. Checking their blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen levels, and the waveforms for the ventilators, it is just overwhelming and tiring.”

The ICU has been Alvy’s home for the past year and every waking moment is a reminder that she has to decide whether who gets the bed first, who gets the ventilator first, who gets the care first. But it's just a matter of seconds after some patients who are better get totally sick and die.

The facility being overburdened by patients who do not have any inkling what the risks are in not getting the vaccine brought not only Alvy but also other health care workers in great frustration and anger.

‘’Being in the ICU and seeing the sickest of all the sickest people who refuse to get vaccinated. Their lives are hanging by a thread, and I am angry, angry with their decision and their stand. The health care system is now living in shambles and they could die any moment. It’s a nightmare knowing we can't do much about it, we can't stop it.”

The utmost distressing part in a chilling and lonely facility is seeing patients die alone. A heart-wrenching sight nurses see almost every day.

“In their time of death, they are often alone. I hold their hands and try to talk to them about things, just trying to lessen their suffering. It's hard knowing their family isn't there to be with them when they die so I try my best to be that family.”

Nurses are not the only ones doing a larger role in the huddle with COVID-19. Contact tracers, volunteers and the respective barangay workers support the external facet of the battle.

Rose Cuyos, a contact tracer in Tayud, Liloan, Cebu whose life has turned around when the pandemic hit the country.

“I used to do office work but now I do field work, especially tracing the positive patients of COVID-19. My way of life has changed, I can no longer enjoy my time with my family because I work overtime especially in emergency cases.”

What keeps the nightmare afloat is the onslaught of tearing families apart to contain the spread of the virus that mankind has yet to win over.

“It hurts being in this position however, it is more difficult seeing the families of the positive patients worry for their loved ones without the capabilities of holding and staying by their side.”

Despite their own bona fide fears these frontline workers are facing head on into this war against COVID-19. Their war cry of heroism, dedication, and selflessness should not be taken for granted.

Let’s do our part, get vaccinated and together with our courageous frontline workers we will make a halt of this pandemic.