Baby Kobe Manjares, the newborn who was named the Philippines’ youngest COVID-19 survivor, died, a relative said Thursday.
The baby was brought back to the National Children’s Hospital for an operation because he was suffering from constipation, Suzan Manjares, Baby Kobe’s aunt said.
“‘Yung paglaki ng tiyan niya na hindi siya makadumi, ‘yun po ang ooperahan doon sa kaniya,” Manjares, sibling of Kobe’s father Ronnel Manjares, told GMA News Online by phone.
(His stomach grew bigger because of constipation, so he was taken there for an operation.)
“Tapos po um-okay naman na siya eh, lagi na po kaming naga-update na okay naman daw,” she added.
(He became okay, we always asked for an update.)
Also read: 23-day-old baby dies of COVID-19 in Batangas
Baby Kobe, PH’s youngest COVID-19 survivor dies
But last night, Baby Kobe became constipated again, and his condition suddenly worsened.
“Tapos kagabi (Wednesday) po nagulat na lang po kami, mga 1 a.m. po, bigla po siyang nagkombulsyon. Tapos’ yun na po, biglang nag-zero zero na,” Manjares said.
(Last night, we were surprised when he had a convulsion at around 1 am. Then he flattened.)
Manjares said doctors also suspected the Baby Kobe’s cause of death is a blood infection.
“Ang hirap nga po, nagulat na lang po kami kagabi noong tumawag nga ‘yung kapitbahay namin na pinaalam sa akin, iyak nang iyak na po ‘yung kapatid ko, tapos kausap ‘yung asawa sa cellphone, ‘yun lang,” the aunt said.
“Kasi nga po naka-survive na po siya eh tapos biglang nagkaganoon,” she added.
Baby Kobe was only 16-days-old when he recovered from the new coronavirus, becoming the youngest COVID-19 survivor in the country.
He was hospitalized at the National Children’s Hospital in Quezon City due to constipation and fever before he tested positive for COVID-19.
But after 11 days of fighting the respiratory disease, the baby recovered and was able to go home.
DOh praised the medical team who took care of the infant, who they called “Baby Survivor.”
Also read: PH’s youngest COVID-19 fatality is 29-day-old baby, DOH confirms