Help a Family Start Over After a Devastating Fire

Hi, my name is Dani, and I’m reaching out to raise funds for one of my employees in the Philippines.

On Friday night, September 5, my employee’s grandmother, Teresita, lost her home in a devastating fire.

I’ve been truly inspired by my employee’s resilience and dedication. She is a mother of two young children and works night shifts while also serving as the main provider for her extended family. Many of our patients at Prisma Wellness may have even spoken with her — her name is Vanessa, and she serves as our customer service representative.

Vanessa’s story is one of sacrifice and perseverance. She was an undergraduate teacher majoring in Special Education, but during her last year of school her father became seriously ill with a cardiopulmonary condition. With her mother’s small income from doing neighbors’ laundry unable to cover expenses, Vanessa had to set aside her degree to support her family. She has an older brother with a disability who struggles with seizures and a speech problem, and she is also supporting her sister, who is currently in nursing school.

Today, Vanessa is the breadwinner for her grandmother, parents, siblings, and her own children. She rents a small room on Cebu island where she lives with her 2-year-old daughter, 6-year-old son, and her husband, who works as an on-call motorcycle driver, earning about $10 a day. Despite these challenges, Vanessa works night shifts with my company, remaining the main provider for her extended family, her grandmother, and her aunt.

Vanessa was raised by her grandmother, Teresita, until the age of 14, when she had to leave home to work and study to support her family. Teresita, now 64, has been paralyzed on one side and wheelchair-bound for three years following a stroke. She is also a widow, relying heavily on her daughter for daily care.

Tragically, on Friday night, September 5, Teresita’s small home in the Poblacion Boljoon in Cebu, Philippines was completely destroyed in a fire. It happened so quickly that she wasn’t able to save any of her belongings. She and her daughter are now staying in a temporary shelter with nothing left but a few donated clothes and bedding.

Over the weekend, I worked with Vanessa to provide funds so she could buy her grandmother basic hygiene supplies (since the shelter does not provide these essentials), replace her medications that were lost in the fire, and secure a temporary room to move her grandmother out of the shelter.

I’m organizing this fundraiser to help Teresita rebuild her home and provide ongoing relief for her and her caregiver. While we cannot help everyone in need, I believe in the power of compassion and community. Helping Teresita means supporting not only a disabled grandmother, but also someone who is deeply loved by Vanessa — a member of our Prisma Wellness family.

Even if you don’t know Teresita personally, you know me, and I hope you’ll trust me when I say that every contribution, no matter the size, will make a real difference for this family.

Here are a few photos from the fire, along with a cherished picture of Teresita with her late husband taken before his passing last year, and another of Vanessa with Teresita when she found out she was expecting her first child.

Thank you for considering lending your support.