My beloved mother diagnosed with Breast Cancer
Donation protected
Hi, my name is Angela Marie Velayo. I have lived in England since 2006 to work and provide for my mother. When I have extra funds I visit my mother once a year. We are from Cagayan De Oro City, Philippines.
My mother is a single mother since I was 3 years old. She raised 4 children on her own. I never met my father as a child. My mom used to work 3-4 jobs to put food on the table for me and my siblings. We moved from one place to another because we could not afford to pay the rent on time. She has been through a lot in the past years. She was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer in her late 40’s and I was young back then so I couldn’t help at that time. I admire her so much because she is so brave and strong. This past couple of weeks she noticed a lump on her right breast and I insisted on getting an ultrasound scan and mammogram followed by a needle biopsy which confirmed she has a high-grade (3) Invasive Ductal Breast Carcinoma- Stage llb. I support financially for her monthly medication maintenance and finance everything with the help of my other half.
My sister and brothers are also supportive in whatever they can support. I am
Just lucky they are there physically to help our mother. They don’t earn much in the Philippines and as a high-earner in the family, I help them financially.
Healthcare in the Philippines is great, we provide great nurses all over the world. Although we have a government hospital, our Philippine government only support and provides medical assistance to indigent families. Define indigent; to cut the story short, me and my family does not qualify as indigent. We are not very poor like we used to be but we can’t afford skyrocket hospital bills. I left my country and my family because I wanted to be able to provide a better life, but we are not rich.
The Filipinos do not have the privilege of the NHS healthcare system like in the United Kingdom therefore we have to pay every single bill in the hospital. I am an NHS worker and I feel very blessed to work in such an amazing organization. Because of the NHS I was able to save and I was able to buy a house for my family in the Philippines and I was able to support my family. The majority of my wages go to my mother for her medications and food allowance, house expenses and bills. I don’t usually ask for help financially as I think I earn enough to provide but my savings/funds are running low. I will be struggling to finance her ongoing treatment.
Every penny we receive will be put to good use from medications, her foods, surgery and hospital bills.
She is currently under the care of Dr. Natasha Emano-Elazegui, Oncology at the Capitol University Medical Center, Cagayan De Oro City. She did her fellowship at the Royal College of Edinburgh.
As we await for her ERPR results, the primary treatment for IDC is either surgery or chemotherapy, depending on the results. (UPDATE: TRIPLE NEGATIVE RESULT)
I am here to humbly ask for your kindness to help me reach my goal for my mother’s medical treatment. I would love to see my mother and be there for her during chemotherapy and surgery. I don’t want to wake up one day knowing I have not had a chance to see her. We only have one mother, love her and appreciate her no matter what.
Your help is much appreciated and I will pay it forward one day.
Organizer
Angela Marie Velayo
Organizer
England