Philippiens Frontliners share personal stories (3) Dr. John Albert Montoya, Pediatric Cardiologist

I am currently working at the Vicente Soto Memorial Medical Center, a tertiary hospital reserved by DOH in Cebu City. I am also a survivor of COVID-19.
Now I am back to normal, but I still have residual symptoms like most survivors. Unless I’m overworked, it won’t really interfere with my daily activities, but it will limit my physical exercise.
In fact, I have returned to work in the hospital full-time, and despite the growing worries and pressure, I still like it very much.
Since I was young, it has always been my dream to become a doctor. My mother is a doctor, and early medical performances (such as Doogie Howser) did not make this career romantic.
However, the reality is completely different. After obtaining the permit, you will not start working as a doctor. It began to return to medical school. This is a difficult and arduous career. You have lost precious time that could have been spent studying with family and friends or on duty in the hospital.
Since 2011, I have been engaged in public service. I completed the pediatric inpatient service at Vicente Soto Memorial Medical Center (Vicente Soto Memorial Medical Center), where the harsh reality of our public health system seriously hurt me. Saving lives in government hospitals is not the same as what we have seen in projects such as Doogie Howser, Gray’s Anatomy and Houses…
There has been a major change in my lifestyle. Due to the spread of this epidemic, my plan to cancel further specialist treatment this year was completely cancelled. It destroys our way of life and the entire health system.
However, nothing is more devastating than the damage I suffered when I encountered COVID-19. I never thought I would get it, but I was diagnosed with severe COVID pneumonia and was hospitalized for 10 days. I fight for my life.
In the previous three days, I even thought it was over for me. Just like every breath, you must breathe heavily. The experience of this disease itself is painful.
At that time, it was deeply ingrained at every moment, and I just hope that no one else can experience what I do.
At that time, the support of everyone (including friends, colleagues and family) has sprung up. Although I have no physical support, their messages of encouragement make me persevere.
When I was a patient at the Philippine Heart Center, the mother of my replacement patient had undergone open heart surgery, and they extended their blessings and encouragement to me.
I hardly remember them, because their surgery was completed two years ago, I have to search social media, armor can at least remember their looks. The information makes everything I have become worthwhile.
In addition to my family, my colleagues and mentors (I also drew strength from them because they are also fighting like me), serving the children is my motivation.
However, I know that children who are sick, especially those with cardiovascular disease, cannot afford the services of a private cardiologist and need my help. These allow me to provide professional knowledge now. This saves me from quitting public service in this pandemic.
Many people still understate the disease, cannot wear masks properly, cannot perform hand hygiene or stay away from society.
These people, I invite fellow Filipinos, who are still despising the pandemic to change their views. There is an urgent need to change ideas. His actions did not seem to lose his life, including the lives of my colleagues in the healthcare industry.
Error messages are also very common. I think the Filipinos should now better understand that this information is correct, verified and applicable to our country. I beg my fellow Filipinos to fight against misinformation in the campaign to stop this pandemic. When I became a victim of severe symptoms, I saw firsthand what this disease can do. Even now, I am not very good.