Reaching Out For Help
Donation protected
My name is Lorna Diwayan. It is with a heavy heart and many hard swallows of my pride that I am reaching out for help.
My father, Thomas Diwayan, moved back to the Philippines almost 4 years ago. Before his decision to return to his homeland, he hadn’t been home in over 40 years. His decision was motivated by the desire to reconnect with his remaining family and to help those that really needed it. Within the first few months of being home, he fell ill with Dengue fever, which began a snowball of health problems.
Almost two weeks ago, he underwent surgery to remove a mass in his intestines that was found to be stage 2 cancer. Currently, his kidneys are failing so he is undergoing 3 hours of dialysis almost daily. My dad was recently put back into the ICU to monitor his heart, which is working extra hard. At this point, the doctors will not do any other surgeries due to the risk.
My father is never a man of many words, neither complaining about the bad hands that life has dealt him or pridefully boasting of the joys this far in his journey. My father joined the US Navy in the Philippines when was 19, which provided him the opportunity to serve this great country, as well as build a life and family away from the place he knew his heart belongs. Here in the US, between my brother Patrick, sister Erica and I, he has 9 grandchildren and many friends and extended family who love him and still think of him.
Due to the sudden turn of events in the past several days, it is financially difficult for our family to immediately pick up and rush to our father/grandfather’s side. After asking permission many times, my friends and co-workers have convinced me to move forward in asking for help.
Whether it’s monetary or prayers, any and all help is greatly appreciated. The money will be used to purchase emergency passports and plane tickets so I can be by my father’s side and hopefully, provide some comfort to him in all the pain that he is experiencing. I thank you for taking the time to think of my family and I!
My father, Thomas Diwayan, moved back to the Philippines almost 4 years ago. Before his decision to return to his homeland, he hadn’t been home in over 40 years. His decision was motivated by the desire to reconnect with his remaining family and to help those that really needed it. Within the first few months of being home, he fell ill with Dengue fever, which began a snowball of health problems.
Almost two weeks ago, he underwent surgery to remove a mass in his intestines that was found to be stage 2 cancer. Currently, his kidneys are failing so he is undergoing 3 hours of dialysis almost daily. My dad was recently put back into the ICU to monitor his heart, which is working extra hard. At this point, the doctors will not do any other surgeries due to the risk.
My father is never a man of many words, neither complaining about the bad hands that life has dealt him or pridefully boasting of the joys this far in his journey. My father joined the US Navy in the Philippines when was 19, which provided him the opportunity to serve this great country, as well as build a life and family away from the place he knew his heart belongs. Here in the US, between my brother Patrick, sister Erica and I, he has 9 grandchildren and many friends and extended family who love him and still think of him.
Due to the sudden turn of events in the past several days, it is financially difficult for our family to immediately pick up and rush to our father/grandfather’s side. After asking permission many times, my friends and co-workers have convinced me to move forward in asking for help.
Whether it’s monetary or prayers, any and all help is greatly appreciated. The money will be used to purchase emergency passports and plane tickets so I can be by my father’s side and hopefully, provide some comfort to him in all the pain that he is experiencing. I thank you for taking the time to think of my family and I!
Organizer
Lorna Diwayan
Organizer
Laguna, NM