Cotabato City—Straight from his two-week quarantine isolation, Maguindanao Rep. Esmael “Toto” Mangudandatu related his lesson from a near-death experience from Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Independence Day.
At the induction July 2 of officers and members of the Bangsamoro Press Corps here, Mangudadatu narrated his lesson to guests and inductees as part of his inspirational message.
“My body temperature was high, at above 40 degrees Celsius. I had a severe headache. It was like an unexpected appointment with the Angel of Death and engaging that spiritual being in an act of taking one’s life, to say not this time please when one was wrapped allover in white,” the congressman said.
He said it was extremely difficult for him to breathe, “as if something hard was shoved against my chest and I had difficulty in breathing.”
Mangudadatu said managing his way out of that situation in sheer struggle, he rose amid pains, and stood to perform a Tahajud, the midnight prayer of supplication in Islam.
Recalling his supplication, he said he asked for a heavenly favor to extend his lease in life for the service of his constituents and the people who needed his help.
He said the prayer must have been heard that he was back to active engagements and interaction with his family, friends and constituents.
Mangudadatu admitted having disobeyed doctors’ advice to stay home after having had his first shot of the anti-COVID-19 vaccine on June 11.
Instead, he attended three meetings that day and COVID-19 struck on June 12.
The lawmaker said he was not rushed to the hospital, because in his room in Manila, he had earlier on installed a set of emergency support medical facilities which included oxygen in capsule tanks, ventilators, patient monitor, as well as CPAP and BPAP systems.
Mangudadatu said he had been monitored closely by three specialists on emergency medicine, internal medicine, and on allergy and immunology.