Hi, my name is Isaac Martinez-Centeno, and I am from Peru, South America. I never imagined I would have to write something like this, but life changed for me in a single moment.

On July 6th, 2025, while living and studying in London, UK, I suffered a stroke. I was admitted to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in Queen’s Square, where I stayed for almost two weeks, followed by a week in a rehabilitation center to help me deal with the difficulties caused by the stroke. After being discharged, I remained in London. Being far from my family in Peru made this experience even harder, but the people who love me helped me stay strong.

My Background

I grew up in a very poor working-class family in Peru. My father never finished primary school, and my mother did not finish secondary school. Both worked as informal street vendors to support me and my two sisters. However, even with these challenges, they taught me one clear lesson: education can change your life.

Because of financial difficulties of my family, I had to work from a young age, starting when I was just 11 years old. All through secondary school, I worked from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., then attended public high school at night. It was very difficult, but I knew it was the only way to reach my dreams.

After finishing high school, I applied for the entrance exam to one of the most competitive and prestigious public universities in Peru, UNMSM, and I was admitted. Thanks to that, I did not have to pay tuition fees. Later, because of my academic performance, I received a scholarship to complete my Master’s degree in Economics at the Pontificia Catholic University of Chile, one of the best economics programs in Latin America. After that, I was admitted with a full scholarship to the PhD program in Economics at the London School of Economics in the UK, one of the top economics departments in the world. It was a dream come true for me and for my family.

By July 2025, I was close to finishing my PhD dissertation, and I had already received a tenure-track job offer to become an Assistant Professor. Everything I had worked for since childhood was finally becoming real.

Then, the stroke happened.

It still feels unreal to me. I have never smoked, never used drugs, and barely drank alcohol. I still do not fully understand why this happened, but I am learning to accept it.

Why I Need Help

Thanks to the NHS, my emergency care was covered. However, since being discharged, I still have ongoing medical needs and living expenses that I cannot currently meet:

It is very hard for me to ask for help. But a friend reminded me that asking for support is not a sign of weakness, and that people can be generous when someone is going through a difficult time. So this is my first attempt at reaching out.

I promise to be transparent. I am recovering slowly but positively, and doctors believe that I can get close to where I was before. That gives me hope. I just need help during this period, hopefully until around July next year, when I expect to be more stable and capable of starting to work again.

One of my biggest dreams is to be able to help my family and make sure that they can be proud of me, as they have helped me my entire life.

How Funds Will Be Used

Your support will help cover:

If you have taken the time to read this, thank you very much. Even if you cannot donate, your kind words or simply sharing my story will help me more than you can imagine.

Thank you for your time, your kindness, and your support.

All the best to you.

With gratitude,

Isaac

Disclosure:

All the funds received through this fundraiser will be used exclusively for the purposes described above. The funds will be used solely for the wellness of Isaac Zenon Martinez Centeno, and they will not be used for the benefit of any third parties.