Help Nathan Hess in Recovery from Critical Illness Overseas

This is a hard thing to ask, but we need help.

My older brother, Nathan Hess, and his wife, Julybeth Tongco Hess, of 25 years, went on vacation to visit Julybeth’s family in the Philippines in February.

Nathan is 50 years old, a dedicated husband, brother, son, and father of 3.

He is diabetic like my dad was, he is on dialysis, and got very sick with the flu 3 days after arriving on the island of Bohol.

After 2 weeks, the flu turned into pneumonia, and then a deadly infection of the blood (sepsis).

He was fighting for his life for over a month in Manila, not responding to multiple antibiotics, undergoing 3 surgeries to drain his lungs.

He was finally released from the hospital last week but had to pay all of his hospital bills in full. His heart and lungs have since been examined in hopes he could be cleared to fly home but was deemed unfit to survive flying home for another 3-6 months.

The insurance and living expense situation is complicated and not working much in their favor. The medical bills as of today, 4/17/25, are at $68,000. They’ve maxed out their credit cards and family help.

They are stuck there, away from their jobs and kids.

Julybeth will most likely lose her job. Nathan will try to work remotely once he regains more strength. Their 15-year-old son, Gunnar, is here in Utah with Julybeth’s aging parents who don’t drive, and their 22-year-old son, Liam, is managing the household.

Liam will be flying over with more medical supplies this weekend, then hurrying back to continue caring for his grandparents and brother.

Just the medications for this month will cost them over $1,000 US dollars. Add to that the cost of continued doctor appointments not covered by insurance, renting hotels, lost wages, and all their bills back at home. ANY SUPPORT you can offer would be a GODSEND. We appreciate your prayers and those who have already reached out to help.