Nurse’s heroism saves patient in Catanduanes

LEGAZPI CITY --- Despite the risk and fear of being infected by the Coronavirus diseases (Covid-19), a 22-year old nurse from Catanduanes never hesitated to help and accompany a patient who suffered from stroke and blood clot in the brain as the latter was transferred from the island province to the Bicol mainland.

Neil Jane Tribiana, a resident nurse of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Hospital in Catanduanes said that her desire to help pushed her to attend to the needs of the patient and the family.

“ I am very happy that I was able to help the patient and the family in my simple way. It is also natural for all nurses to be caring in times of need and maybe I’m available at the moment they need it”, Tribiana said. She said that at first, she was hesitant to go with the patient.

I was having second thoughts if I will go or not. I was thinking of my duty in the hospital, the possibility of 14-day quarantine, the risk and to think it’s my sister’s birthday,” she said.

Jhon Paul Rodriguez, brother of the patient in a separate interview confirmed that his elder brother was diagnosed of stroke with blood clot in the brain.

“Since there is no resident neurologist in the province, our family decided to transfer our brother to the mainland hospital but the Enhanced Community Quarantine and the risk of Coronavirus diseases (Covid-19) make it very difficult to find a nurse that will accompany my brother in the travel period,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said they almost lost hope since the hospital will not allow the transfer of his brother if no nurse will accompany him during the four to five hours sea travel to Tabaco City port.

“The hospital cannot provide the nurse since they also need them and some are already undergoing 14-day quarantine procedure. I called my nurse friends and relatives but with dismay they all refused to attend since some were on duty and others for personal reasons,” Rodriguez said.

He added that despite of being a big family (12 siblings), no one is around to help their brother. “Only my brother’s family and our father is in the province, all of us are in Metro Manila, I cried a lot since I want to be with him in this challenging time of his life.”

He also said that with the help of friends, relatives and neighbors, they were able to accomplish all the requirements needed for the transfer of his brother.

“Nurse na lang talaga ang wala para mapayagan si kuya mailipat, he recalled.

“The travel time is Tuesday 1:00 PM. then at around 10:30 AM, someone called and was willing to accompany our brother. We really believed that she’s an angel sent by God to save the life of our brother,” he said.

Tribiana when asked for her the reason for helping, said “, I know that the patient’s case is very critical since it involves brain and I know there is no neurosurgeon available in the province. The clock is ticking, every minute is important for the patient’s life; everything is prepared even the patients so I decided to go, not just because no nurse is available but because his life will be in danger. It will just consume a little time and the risk is there, but the life of the patient is more important now,” she said.

Tribiana said she will continue to pray for the fast recovery of the patient

“To the family of the patient, thank you very much for entrusting him under my care, your appreciation is enough for me, I’m glad that I was able to help. For other frontliners, God sees our heart. Our willingness to help and sacrifices will be appreciated. Never get tired of helping other people. Let’s embrace passion, the calling of our profession,” she said.

To lessen the risk of Covid-19 in the island province, a group of medical team from Milaor in Camarines Sur fetched the patient at the Tabaco City port.

As of this writing, Tribiana together with the ambulance driver are now back in Catanduanes and the patient is now under medical care in the Mother Seton Hospital in Naga City.

Tribiana graduated at Catanduanes State University (CSU) College of Nursing in 2018.

“To all who pray and become an instrument to help our family, we are very grateful, to nurse Neil Jane, we will be forever grateful to you, God will always be there to give us the things that we need, never lose hope,” Rodriguez said.