One of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) survivors who underwent the groundbreaking stem cell treatment of the UAE, a Filipino, said that the process helped him recover 100 percent with no other side effects and symptoms afterwards.
Abdullajig Hammis, 40, said that he was first diagnosed with the disease on May 13, after he experienced body aches and fever. After he started having breathing difficulties, he said he requested to be transferred from the quarantine facility to the hospital for proper treatment.
“That time, worse na pakiramdam ko kasi umuubo na ako at nahihirapan na huminga. Upon checking, nalaman na naka-develop na ako ng pneumonia kaya ginamot na nila ako,” he said.
The OFW added that his wife and youngest kid also tested positive for the disease, although their symptoms were mild that they only had to undergo home quarantine.
Hamims recalled that he was first treated with various medications and dextrose to treat his COVID-19-caused pneumonia for a week. Afterwards, he was asked if he wanted to avail the stem cell treatment—wherein his own blood will be used to try to repair his lungs.
“Ang sabi lang sa akin, ang treatment ay malaki ang tyansa na makatulong sa aking pneumonia dahil may mga damage na sa aking lung cells. Isa daw ‘yon sa mga ginagawa nilang treatment ngayon,” he said.
Earlier, UAE researchers trialing the new stem cell treatment for COVID-19 infections have secured intellectual property rights protection, opening the way for the technology to be shared widely so more patients can benefit.
READ ALSO: UAE confirms success of 73 stem cell trial treatments
The treatment involves extracting stem cells from the patient’s own blood and reintroducing them as a nebulizing mist after reactivating them.
Hammis added that since he really wanted to get better, he thought he is no harm in trying, and that he believes in the UAE’s healthcare system.
According to earlier reports, initial results from the treatment were promising, with all patients responding well to the treatment. However, researchers stressed at the time that the results were preliminary and further analysis of the data was needed.
“The patients that received stem cells therapy improved faster than those who received the standard treatment only. Patients who received the stem cells treatment demonstrated clinical improvement within the first four days of treatment as evidenced by lower severity scores. The standard treatment group took eight days to show similar findings,’’ said Dr Fatema Alkaabi, Co-Principal Investigator and Specialist Hematologist at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City.
Further analyses revealed that patients treated with the stem cells treatment are 3.1 times more likely to recover in less than seven days than those treated with standard therapy, and 67 percent of the patients who received the stem cells treatment owe this recovery to the new treatment.
READ ALSO: UAE’s stem cell treatment treats 2000 COVID-19 patients
“After two days, gumanda na po ang pakiramdam ko. Hanggang sa makuha ko na ang negative results ko noong June 15,” said Hammis.
Now, the Filipino said he is “100 percent recovered” and that he has started working again.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa UAE government sa pagsagot sa treatment ko, maging sa pag-alaga sa aking pamilya habang nasa ospital ako. Napakagaling at maalaga ng mga nurses at health workers sa akin kahit delikado ang kanilang trabaho,” he said.
He also reminded Filipinos to adhere strictly to the safety rules of the UAE to guarantee their wellbeing.
“Ang mensahe ko lng sa lahat ng mga kapwa OFW ko ay seryosohin at sundin lahat ng rules at guidelines ng government. Bukod sa makakaiwas na sila sa virus, maiiwasan rin nila ang napakalaking fines,” he said.
