My name is Josephine “Phet” Vergara, who is a member of Couples for Christ since 2014. We have a new member name Raul Dawang and Maria Milagros Dawang who came to Australia on April 2017 and his wife arrived on May 2019. Both of them were not yet a permanent resident and is under a company working visa.

On January 17, 2023, Raul was diagnosed with a meningioma, a type of brain tumor that arises from the meninges, which are the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord and undergo a brain surgery because of that. All the hospital expenses during his hospital stay were covered by the insurance however all the follow-ups check-up which is Out-Patient treatment is not anymore covered by the insurance in which their bill as of September 9, 2025, has reached to $116,070.50. After his surgery, he was not able to work for 1 year and 3 months and his wife has to bear the stress of carrying their bill problems.

After 2 years of Raul’s surgery, Maria was then diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer and has to undergo and stayed in the hospital for her chemotherapy. And again, all the hospital bills during her stay were covered by their insurance however all the Out-Patient check-ups were not and has reached to $8,531.65 as of September 9, 2025. The total debts of the couple have now reached $124,584.15 for the hospital bills and having considered their situation, the hospital has provided them a payment plan paying $110.00 weekly which is a breakdown on $60.00 for Raul’s bill and $50.00 for Maria’s bill.

Raul is now back to work at Coolalinga Tavern doing only a 3–4-hour shift per day 5 days a week and Maria is still recovering from her chemotherapy and has not given the clearance to go back to work because of her condition.

Each week they have to pay for the medical bills, food and travel expenses to work and to hospital. Apart from that, they also have to pay for the house rent and electricity plus their food. With a very low income and growing bills, they are very much in need of our help.

I am seeking for your assistance to help them pay medical bills to at least lessen their stress of thinking how to survive.

I am not able to give you back the help you will extend them but I know that God will surely give it back to you in ten folds.

Thank you so much.