Image: screengrab from YouTube/Rica Peralejo-Bonifacio
As Rica Peralejo and her husband recently recovered from COVID-19, the celebrity mom recalled the fears and confusion she faced while battling the disease.
“Nakakatakot siya kasi parang hindi mo mahulaan kung saan pupunta ‘yung illness,” Peralejo said on her YouTube vlog on Friday, May 7. (It’s scary because you can’t predict how the illness will progress.)
Peralejo stated that she began having COVID-19 symptoms like fatigue and flu on March 18 and got tested for the virus four days later.
Her husband Joseph Bonifacio and a house helper were also swabbed after being exposed to her, but they both tested negative for the virus. Despite the negative results, the house helper still showed symptoms of COVID-19.
Peralejo initially thought having COVID-19 was going to be manageable for her because the symptoms she was having were not as severe as she had expected. But she started feeling worse after experiencing body pains, headaches and shortness of breath.
“Of course, it started a thread of worries in my head. Whenever I would look at my kids, naiisip ko na, ‘Ano ba ‘to? Ito na ba yung mga story na naririnig mo na last time mo na sila makikita?’ (“Is this it? Is this the story that you hear about where you get to see your family for the last time?”)” she said.
Peralejo’s condition improved about 12 days after the onset of symptoms, but her husband tested positive for the disease shortly after. He experienced body pains, flu, migraines and shortness of breath while he was battling the disease, but was also able to recover. Fortunately, their children were not infected with COVID-19.
“I was just blown away by the faithfulness of God to spare the two boys from any of what we experienced,” Peralejo stated.
She urged people who test positive for COVID-19 to contact trace, isolate and monitor their symptoms. She also gave tips to people who have loved ones with COVID-19: send food, respect their boundaries and pray for them. JB
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