By Aidem Almojano
The Cruz family tells how losing one of their loved ones due to the COVID-19 pandemic strengthened their faith and bond.
"Praying comforted our family. It has become our way of releasing our pain and helping ourselves heal from it"
The Cruz family never questioned God even after testing positive for COVID-19 and losing their grandmother due to the dreaded disease.
COVID-19 has evidently taken numerous opportunities and lives since its spread in 2020 here in the Philippines, where about 50,000 deaths were recorded as of writing.
Yolanda Cruz, a mother of two and a nurse, is one of the millions of people who tested positive from the disease alongside her eldest son, Dave, and 84-year old mother, Rosario.
After showing symptoms of COVID-19, Yolanda promptly scheduled a swab test. She said that her system shut down when she received the result of her swab test.
"On the night of April 2, my colleague sadly informed me regarding my results. That time, everything went down on me. I can't accomplish my duties and responsibilities as a chief nurse, and there's my family, who relies on me, especially my mother who was then unable to walk," said Yolanda.
"That time, everything went down on me. I can't accomplish my duties and responsibilities as a chief nurse, and there's my family, who relies on me"
Soon after Yolanda got the results, her family immediately conducted self-isolation before their own scheduled swab test.
Dave also tested positive for COVID-19, even though he was asymptomatic.
"I did not believe them (swab team), and I pleaded for another swab because I don't exhibit any symptoms," Dave said, "Then, after two days, I started experiencing symptoms, and that's when I accepted that I am really COVID-19 positive."
As the eldest, Dave was disappointed with himself as he could not help look after his mother and grandmother due to COVID-19 precautionary measures.
While Yolanda and Dave experienced a mild case of COVID-19 infection, Rosario suffered the worst.
Six days after the COVID-19 outbreak in their household, the Cruz received Rosario's positive swab test result.
Rosario, who also has comorbidities, went unconscious, had to use an oxygen tank to support her breathing, and was getting weaker every day.
Yolanda blamed herself for the COVID-19 outbreak in their household as she was the first to test positive.
"I blamed myself because I was the carrier of the virus. I feel responsible for it, and it hurts me even though my siblings were saying it wasn't my fault," she said.
Yolanda used all her connections as a member of the Disease Surveillance Officers to ask for help to secure a hospital room and accommodation for her mother, whose condition was getting worse by the minute.
"I am a member of the Disease Surveillance Officers (where) we have a group chat. I asked everyone to help my mother, although no one's responding," said Yolanda while holding back tears as she recalled every detail.
After asking seven hospitals to admit Rosario at midnight, a hospital staff called Yolanda and told her there was already a vacant room for Rosario.
"They called me and asked how's my mother, and I told them that until now, we are still looking for a hospital," Yolanda explained, "Then they told me to come back because there's a vacant room already."
Rosario spent six days inside the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) without any contacts from her family. Yolanda then said that every day, they would call the attending nurse of Rosario to relay a message to her.
"I told them to tell Nanay (mother) that we love her and we will not abandon nor leave her. We're here, waiting for her."
On April 22, 2021, the Cruz family received the most painful news they could ever hear- Rosario passed away at the age of 84.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Cruz family couldn't be with Rosario and see her on her last days, which pained them even more.
"There is nothing more grievous than losing someone you love without even seeing them for the last time. We still wish that we were with her that time-- holding her hands, caressing her hair, and assuring her that we will all go home together," said Yolanda.
"There is nothing more grievous than losing someone you love without even seeing them for the last time"
“I asked my parents and the nurses if I could get out of self-isolation to see and pay respect to Nanay (grandmother) but they didn’t allow me. I was so mad at myself. I wanted to be with her but I couldn’t,” Dave said with a breaking voice.
"We miss her every day. Actually, we don't consider her gone because she is always in our hearts and her urn is still with us. But we miss her so much," said Justin, the youngest of the Cruz Family and the only one in the family who did not test positive from the virus. Justin attended to the needs of their COVID-positive family members.
He said that Rosario taught him how to pray and be an upright person.
When his grandmother died, Justin, who is also a sacristan of their parish church, did not question nor blame God for what happened, but he prayed for guidance, hope, and strength through Saint Jude’s intercession.
"I did not question God like blaming Him literally for what happened- that I doubt His will. I just asked Him if we could overcome this pain and trial," he said.
"But that time, I was just pleading [myself] to St. Jude - St. Jude, please help me don't lose [my] hope, and I know that you're always here with me."
Meanwhile, Yolanda said that what happened to their family and the passing of her mother never challenged their faith but that it strengthened it.
"I have no right to question God because everything that is happening and has happened, He has reasons and plans for it," Yolanda said.
"We started praying the Rosary every day and night. Our family became stronger."
Yolanda added that it is important to have and maintain undying faith in God even when subjected to trials as it will help people understand and heal.
"Praying comforted our family. It has become our way of releasing our pain and helping ourselves heal from it.”
Despite the pain of losing someone, the Cruz family managed to strengthen their bond and grow their faith in God.
The Cruz family remained thankful and faithful to God as they-now know that their beloved grandmother is at peace.
Yolanda said they would continue to lift everything to God amidst any circumstance.
"Cast your burdens upon Him and put God as the center of everything," she exclaimed.
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