What’s more horrifying than losing your loved ones? 

We would say, none. Family is the top priority -- first thing we always wish to keep safe; we tell them to take care of themselves be it from a dangerous situation, calamity, or even from a virus.

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The world was put on pause when the novel coronavirus rapidly spread all over the world, it is as if someone was holding a remote control and forgot to click the resume button. People are forced to stay at home. Health professionals encourage washing hands, use protective gears when going outside, and to always look after our well-being. 

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All of these efforts are done, but unfortunately, a lot of people have died because of the deadly virus.  We fear that we might get infected from this virus, or worse, our family might get it from us. What a nightmare it is to see our family struggling from the unseen enemy.

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Terror is what best describes the feeling of Artagnan Liszt Biason when he and his family tested positive for coronavirus.

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Artagnan Liszt Biason is a graduating student from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Sta. Mesa, Manila taking up a degree in Journalism. 

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As we all know, classes were suspended in mid-March because of the growing cases of COVID-19 in the country. Artagnan spent all his days in Pandi, Bulacan where he resides together with his family and relatives.

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The first family member who tested positive from the virus was his grandmother, who serves at their church amidst pandemic. But she made sure to bring alcohol, wear a face mask and face shield, observe social distancing, and take a bath after going outside the house. However, still at that time, they had no idea that his grandmother had coronavirus.

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Without realizing that his grandma already acquired the virus, Artagnan continues his usual routine which is checking his social media at the dinner table, his favorite spot. He would hang out there for hours. Every night he’ll sit there and do his thing.

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“Ako kasi ‘yung palatambay dito sa kinakainan nila palagi kasi malakas yung Wi-Fi dito,” he explained.

One afternoon, Artagnan’s family was having their late lunch at 1:00 pm, when he noticed that he couldn’t taste his favorite tinola. He’s not sure if it is just him or the food doesn’t have a taste at all.

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“Kako, ganito ba talaga lasa ng tinola?” he added.

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He also started losing his sense of smell. Artagnan got a bit nervous but still refused to think that it is a coronavirus, because he never thought of any reason why he would be infected with the virus. 

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“Nagsisinungaling na lang ako na may panlasa pa ako kasi syempre natatakot din akong masabihan na may COVID,” he said. 

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The fear grows each day because just when he thought that he had it worst, what happened next was even more nightmarish.

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After him, his cousin started having the flu. His siblings couldn’t stop coughing. 

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Artagnan’s grandma also started having flu and it gets worse and worse every day. His mom and grandfather said they couldn’t taste anything – that’s when they decided to undergo swab testing.

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Artagnan’s father admitted his grandmother to the hospital because she had severe symptoms of the virus.

 

Artagnan revealed that his family spent a large amount of money just to be tested in hospitals since free testing is just available for those with severe symptoms just like his grandma.

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That’s when it occurred to him, the fear of losing a loved one, the regret of not spending as much time with his family, and the agony to see everyone he loves suffer from the unwanted virus.

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He shared that; he was emotional during those times because he feared that he might lose his loved ones.

 

“Natatakot ako noon kasi naiisip ko, paano kung bigla silang nawala sakin? Lalo na lola ko kasi nga senior na siya baka hindi niya kayanin, ‘di ba?” he said.

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To make it even harsher, they were discriminated against in their community because the news of his grandmother admitted to the hospital went out. 

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Barricades were installed on the gates of their neighbors to prevent them from passing through and multiple complaints were raised in their barangay to remove them from their place.

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It stresses the mind out of them, so they escape from their community for a while. Their initial plan was to drive away from their place in Bulacan and go somewhere where nobody knew about their current situation instead of being in a poor quarantine facility. 

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But they eventually settled down in one of the houses of his aunt. There, they started to heal from the virus as they isolated in peace and received care from their relatives. Artagnan’s grandmother was left at the hospital to receive extensive care.

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In two weeks of isolation, the hardest part for Artagnan aside from having the virus was that there’s nothing that can ease their boredom, especially for his sister who was just a child. He said that it was hard for him to explain their situation to his sister who always complained of wanting to go outside and go home in Bulacan.

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Artagnan’s family started doing home workout, taking vitamins, and regularly sanitize their hands to strengthen their immune system.

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After four weeks, they went through their second swab testing, Artagnan together with his grandfather and cousin was tested negative, but his father, mother, and siblings’ test came out still positive, so, they still have to isolate for four more weeks. It saddens him upon hearing the news that not all of his family recovered. Only if he could take the pain and struggle all over again to save his family from the misery, he would. Nevertheless, he prays for their fast recovery.

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“Malungkot kasi ‘yung family ko hindi nakarecover tapos ako okay na, pero iniisip ko na lang na okay lang, na gagaling din sila at pansamantala lang naman,” he said.

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After being cleared from the virus, Artagnan returned home in Bulacan and waited for his family to fully recover. His family recovered from COVID-19 after isolating for four more weeks, everything is back to normal in terms of their health and well-being. His grandmother was also cleared from the virus after two months in the hospital. His family is back to their residence in Bulacan and they’re living with their heads high, knowing that they surpassed such a grueling experience in their life.

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In his experience, Artagnan thought that it is very important to spend time with your family because you don’t know when unfortunate things are going to happen. 

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For him, looking after his well-being will benefit not just him but also his family. He made sure to take care of himself and his loved ones.

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“Maging matatag lang talaga, maniwala ka na gagaling ka. Tapos pray lang nang pray. Kailangan mo rin intindihin yung nasa paligid mo kasi sila rin mismo natatakot lang din na mangyari sa kanila yung nangyayari sa inyo, at syempre live healthy, kailangan mong baguhin yung lifestyle mo para tumibay yung resistensya mo,” he said.

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Terrible events such as the pandemic are inevitable, but for Artagnan: we should never lose hope and keep believing that there’ll be a better day.

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