coronavirus frontliners

‘Epitome of a fighter’: Dr Kharen Senen remembered for her unconditional love

Loreta Arroyo

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‘Epitome of a fighter’: Dr Kharen Senen remembered for her unconditional love
The pandemic did not stop Dr Kathlynne Anne Abat-Senen from attending to her patients. She also uplifted the spirits of fellow frontliners through her gift of music.

“Kung hindi tayo ang gagawa nito, sino? At kung hindi ngayon, kailan (If we will not do this, who else will? If not now, then when)?”

As a doctor and the lone neonatologist in Valenzuela City, Dr Kathlynne Anne “Kharen” Abat-Senen lived by this motto, referencing to a quote popularized by Filipino activist Abraham Sarmiento. 

Dr Jerome Senen, her husband, said this is why Dr Kharen never turned her back on any patient who needed her, even those who are less privileged.

“She cannot ask you to pay her a high price. Some of her patients haven’t even paid her professional fee and she doesn’t complain about that because she has dedicated her life to the service of babies that need her,” Dr Jerome said in a mix of English and Filipino.

The deluge of tributes from relatives, groups, patients, and personalities for the 43-year-old doctor following her death serve as proof of the life of service and dedication she practiced. She passed away on August 23, after a reinfection of COVID-19. 

Who is Dr. Kharen?

Dr Jerome described his “best friend” and “soulmate” as someone who exceled in everything she put her heart in – whether it was singing, calligraphy, photography, or being a mother.

Dr Kharen is survived by two children, aged 8 and 11. Dr Jerome said they are still trying to cope up with their mother’s passing.

“I have to explain to them that their mom won’t be coming back anymore. I don’t know how to explain it in simple words that a kid would understand,” Dr Jerome said in an interview.

“From now on pa lang sinasabi ko na sa kanila (I’m already telling them that), you remember your mom through the happy moments that we spent with each other. Do not remember her as another person who died of COVID-19. She’s not just a statistic…. She’s a heroine,” he added.

Dr. Kharen graduated from the University of the Philippines Manila College of Medicine (UP Manila) in 2004. She specialized in neonatology, or the medical field that deals with newborn babies, especially those who are premature or born with illnesses.

As a medical student, Dr Kharen found music as a creative outlet. She was a a soprano in the UP Med Choir, a beloved member where she was called “Mama Sop,” according to the choir’s tribute post to the fallen doctor.

Dr Kharen had said that they would serenade their mentors and their patients as they believe that music “heals our souls.” 

Last March, Dr Kharen and other fellow UP Med Choir alumni curated a “virtual choirantine” where they released a choral rendition of “Lead Me Lord,” hoping to uplift the spirits and raise awareness on the struggles of frontliners. (Read: WATCH: Doctors serenade coronavirus frontliners amid fear, loss)

In a Facebook post, Dr Kharen said that healthcare workers are “battling an unseen enemy with very little protection.” (READ: Left in the dark: Little protection for government’s coronavirus frontliners)

Earlier that month, frontliners were greatly worried for their safety as personal protective equipment (PPE) were running short. As a result, doctors and volunteers resorted to improvising PPEs made out of plastic bags, plastic containers, and foam.

‘Everyone is family’

At the height of the coronavirus pandemic in the Philippines, Dr Kharen chose to continue her service.

Dr Jerome said the idea of seeing the families of her patients enjoying a longer life together fueled Dr Kharen to continue treating ill newborn babies in different hospitals in Valenzuela City.

“She finds comfort in the fact that she sees these babies growing up and functioning well with their parents; parents and kids enjoying a long life because of her work — that is her drive,” Dr Jerome said.

For her 20-year-old niece Kylyn Abat, her Tita Kharen acted as her second mother.

“Tita Kharen is the person who is always proud of me. I’m not really the smartest person and sometimes I really have a hard time understanding a lot of things, but she was always the one that was the most patient with me,” Abat said in an interview.

“[S]he was really just like the life-giver in my life,” she added.

Abat also said she would usually confide in her Tita Kharen as soon as she comes home. Even after a long day’s work, the doctor would still be eager to hear her stories.

She said she is now left with those memories of her Tita Kharen, especially during her teenage years when her aunt guided her in most aspects of her life.

“I’ll remember how I was so busy being a teenager…. She was the one who sat me down to talk to me about dating…. She was also the one who taught me how to do makeup,” she said.

That is why Abat was not surprised when her Tita Kharen chose to still attend to her patients even at the height of the pandemic.

“For Tita Kharen, family includes everyone…. I knew she would help…. There was no ‘if-or-else,’” Abat said. “If Tita Kharen had a Tita Kharen to help her, she would have made it.”

How she got the virus

Although she wasn’t dealing with coronavirus patients, swab tests confirmed that Dr Kharen contracted the virus after she was rushed to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) on June 10.

It took 23 days until Dr Kharen was finally discharged from the hospital on July 3. Dr Jerome said she was retested for COVID -19 and when the results came back negative, they were cleared to go home.

Dr Kharen even posted a video of her singing to “celebrate” her discharge at the hospital.

Dr Jerome said that his wife was feeling fine for the next two days after her discharge and experienced no symptoms. However, she eventually lost her appetite and her sense of smell, and experienced a high grade fever – the known symptoms of COVID-19 infection. 

The family observed her symptoms for a few days at home, but when she didn’t get better, she was rushed back to PGH on July 11.

They then confirmed that she was reinfected by the coronavirus. And this time, the doctor failed to recover after 44 days in the intensive care unit.

Dr Jerome said they’re still uncertain how his wife contracted the disease as they had been wearing complete PPE when they report for duty and thoroughly disinfect as soon as they got home. 

‘Cherished, admired by many’

In a post, the University of the Philippines Medical Students’ Society said Dr Kharen is “cherished and admired by her colleagues and students alike.”

Senator Richard Gordon, Philippine Red Cross president, also paid tribute to the doctor, saying that she was an “epitome of a fighter and a hero who wanted nothing else but the safety of the people.”

The City of Valenzuela, through Mayor Rex Gatchalian, has also paid tribute to its lone neonatologist and gave a P300,000-burial assistance to the Senen family.

Dr Kharen Abat-Senen joins other medical professionals who have died due to the coronavirus including Dr Raul Jara, Dr Greg Macasaet, and Dr Henry Fernandez. – Rappler.com

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