California father, 53, is fighting for his life on a ventilator after being struck down by mystery flu-like illness in the Philippines
An American father has been put on a ventilator after being stricken with a ‘mysterious respiratory infection’.
Armando Ramos, 53, of California, has tested negative for Covid and the flu, leaving doctors struggling to determine the cause of his illness.
The father of three – who has no underlying conditions – has also been intubated and is suffering from a collapsed lung, encephalitis and kidney problems.
He is being treated at a hospital in Manila after his sore throat developed into chest pain and difficulty breathing within five days. He had flown to the country in early August for his late mother’s funeral.
Armando Ramos, 53, was intubated and put on a ventilator in hospital after suffering from a ‘mysterious illness’. He was visiting the Philippines from California when he developed a sore throat which quickly progressed to chest pain and difficulty breathing
The above is a screenshot of a telephone conversation with his three daughters – Yasmin, Emma and AJ – on the day he was admitted to hospital. It is shown at the top left
His daughters Emma and AJ Gaines-Ramos told local news the illness felt like a “cruel deja vu” during the Covid pandemic.
“At this point, it’s a mystery,” Emma told the publication. “Every day we still don’t know what is happening to him.
“It’s traumatizing, in the sense that when the pandemic first happened, nobody knew what was happening.
“You’re really just fighting the symptoms, but you’re not going to the source of it.
“That’s what it feels like is happening right now.”
AJ added, “It’s a brutal deja vu with the pandemic. Anticipating his condition every day and not knowing it is frightening.”
Ramos had flown to the Philippines from Chula Vista, California, in early August for his late mother’s funeral.
He attended the ceremony in which he placed a vase containing her ashes in a mausoleum.
He began to experience a sore throat and persistent fatigue and five days later he went to the hospital when his symptoms progressed to chest pain and difficulty breathing, where doctors diagnosed him with pneumonia and put him on a ventilator.
His condition continued to worsen and his daughters said that in addition to lung, brain and kidney problems, he also had complications with his heart and liver.
He was transferred to the hospital’s intensive care unit as doctors battled the infection.
Recently, doctors also pumped bacteria-filled fluid from his lungs.
Tests for viral infections were negative, but it was not clear whether swabs had also been performed for bacterial infections, such as streptococcus pneumoniae.
Emma and AJ, pictured during an interview, said his mysterious illness reminded them of the early days of the Covid pandemic
Mr Ramos is pictured above with his three daughters several years ago. This image was posted as part of a video asking for donations to fund their father’s hospital care
He will also be tested for meningitis, a condition in which an infection causes inflammation of the fluid and membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. This can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection.
The father has been in the hospital for a week and is battling the disease.
There have been some signs of improvement in recent days: his kidney function has improved and his blood oxygen levels have risen – although he is still in intensive care.
Doctors say he will likely remain in the ward for at least another two weeks while they wait for his condition to improve.
The daughters’ mother has flown to his bed.
They added that their father was otherwise healthy and exercised regularly.
The family revealed their case in a GoFundMe, where they are appealing for $50,000 to help cover international hospital bills. Currently, they have raised $20,000.