Dear Sir/Madam,

My name is Jan Baltazar, a 39-year-old seafarer employed by a U.S.-based company. I am writing on behalf of my common-law partner, Lourdes Claire Fortich, to humbly seek assistance during this extremely difficult time for our family.

Lourdes was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus at the age of nine. Since then, she has been courageously battling this lifelong condition while trying to live as normal a life as possible. Unfortunately, her illness has often been severe, requiring hospitalization at least four times each year.

Over the past three months, her condition has progressively worsened, and she has required hospitalization almost every month.

On February 5, 2026, she was rushed unconscious to Commonwealth Hospital and Medical Center. Her condition at that time was critical and far worse than any of her previous episodes. Thankfully, the hospital’s doctors and medical staff worked tirelessly to revive and stabilize her using all necessary medical procedures and life-support measures.

As of today, she has been confined in the hospital for one month and two days. Her condition has significantly improved, and only a few remaining procedures are needed before she can finally be discharged. However, the hospital expenses have continued to accumulate.

As of March 7, 2026, the hospital bill has reached ₱1,200,000 Philippine pesos, excluding the doctors’ professional fees. In addition, medicines and medical supplies must now be paid in cash prior to administration, as the hospital has already marked our account as closed due to the outstanding balance.

Both of our families have done everything they can to help, but her previous hospitalizations have already drained our savings. We have exhausted all possible resources, including borrowing from relatives and colleagues. At this point, I no longer know how I will be able to repay the debts we have already incurred.

In the past weeks, we have also reached out for assistance from several government agencies in the Philippines, including PCSO, the Office of the President, and the Offices of Senators. Unfortunately, obtaining immediate assistance from these offices has proven extremely difficult.

With humility and hope, I am reaching out to your kind hearts for any assistance you may be able to extend to my family. I am not asking for more than what is necessary. My only wish is to settle the hospital bill so that my partner may finally be discharged and continue her recovery at home. Unfortunately, raising such an amount in the foreseeable future is beyond my capacity.

Any help, no matter how small, will be deeply appreciated and will bring us one step closer to bringing Lourdes home safely.

Thank you very much for your time, compassion, and consideration.

Sincerely,

Jan Baltazar