Wired up to intensive care machines and ventilators that are keeping her alive, premature baby Mia is a beacon of hope amid Covid-19 heartbreak for a Filipino family.
Her mother, Florissa, 43, was seven months pregnant when she contracted the virus, prompting doctors at Zulekha Hospital in Sharjah to perform an emergency Caesarean section.
Arriving two months early, Mia was placed in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit, where she has now been for almost six weeks.
But doctors were unable to save Florissa, whose condition deteriorated shortly after giving birth. She died just days later.
Husband Jeremy, also from the Philippines, kept a vigil by his daughter’s side and is devastated his wife could not meet Mia before she passed away.
“We were very worried because she was high risk being pregnant,” said Jeremy, who works for a financial advisor in Dubai, who did not want to give his family’s surname.
“On her fourth night in hospital, she was transferred to the ICU and given ventilation straight away.”
The couple were married for 10 years and had been trying for a baby for the past five.
When Florissa became pregnant in July, they were overjoyed that all their dreams were to be realised.
Those dreams were shattered in February when the couple both tested positive for Covid-19, just two months before Mia was due.
After five days of quarantine at home, Florissa’s condition began to deteriorate and Jeremy called for an ambulance.
Just two days later, doctors made a critical decision to perform an emergency Caesarean section on Florissa, to protect her unborn baby from the strong medication she desperately needed.
“I spoke to my wife on the phone but she could not talk to me as she was struggling to breathe,” said Jeremy.
"I agreed to an emergency C-section over the phone.
“Thankfully, it was successful and our new baby was quickly transferred to the isolation room to prevent any risk of contracting Covid-19.
“Florissa was not even permitted to cuddle or meet her.”
Two days later, on the final day of his 10-day isolation, Jeremy received the phone call from doctors that he had dreaded.
His wife's condition was now critical and he was asked to come in. By the time Jeremy arrived, she had passed away.
“I cried and wanted to die,” he said.
“The last time I talked to my wife she was being prepped for surgery. I told her everything would be alright, but she was never conscious again.
“I keep on praying for our baby to survive, to grow up healthy and to be a normal child, even without her mother.
“I don't want to fail as a father because this will mean my wife died in vain.”
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Jeremy said he sees progress in Mia every day.
Soon he hopes she will be able to feed orally, rather than rely on the stomach tubes pumping milk into her every two hours.
But a chronic lung condition is likely to keep her in ICU for another week at least.
As a premature baby, she is at high risk of developing complications but Jeremy hopes he will be able to take her home to the Philippines once she is strong enough to travel and has been vaccinated.
So far, the medical bills he must pay for Mia’s care have surpassed Dh100,000 ($27,224).
While well-wishers have already donated substantial funds to the hospital to clear the medical debt, around Dh60,000 is likely to remain, which includes the next two weeks of care anticipated for Mia.
His wife’s medical insurance expired on March 31 and had a limit of Dh150,000 that has already been exceeded.
The hospital said Florissa was diagnosed to have acute viral bronchopneumonia, which then led to acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Later she would suffer multiple organ failure and septic shock.
“My family is in the Philippines and I really want to take good care of my daughter to make her proud of me and to understand about her mother,” said Jeremy.
“I have a beautiful baby daughter who makes every day worth fighting for.”
Funds can be deposited by donors directly to the hospital by cheque or cash at the billing counter, mentioning the reference of the baby.
Payments can also be made on the Zulekha Hospital website through the Pay Online option.
Patient Reference number (PIN): ZHS0851709. D/O Maria Florissa.
