Help Jessa with quick, life-giving surgery

In 2012 I met Jessa. She was enrolled in a local entrepreneurship class, getting upskilled with the aim to land a stable job and lift herself out of poverty. I spent 6 weeks volunteering there; tutoring her and other students in the class. Over that time she became my friend and I also agreed to be a Godfather to her 12-month-old son, John Matthew. Since then we’ve stayed regularly in contact. Fast forward to 2024 and she has a husband, Elfred, and is the mother of three young boys; John, Frederick, and Carl.

For the last two years Jessa has been battling biliary colic and her health has deteriorated significantly. Her gallbladder is at a point where it could rupture and severe complications or death from sepsis without the necessary medical attention is an ever-present threat.

Both Jessa and Elfred work long, hard hours to provide for their kids. It’s usually just enough to keep going although often there is trouble paying for water, electricity, or food bills.

Recently the gallbladder pain has been so severe that there have been multiple expensive hospital visits and ongoing medication needed. These have come at the expense of their basic family needs such as Frederick’s painful dental issues or school transportation costs which means the kids have had to miss out. Without her energy and income, the costs on top of normal bills and rent compound for the family.

The only way for her to have this surgery is upfront payment. The cost of the surgery needed is approx. 15x their monthly household income and roughly equivalent to $5,800AUD. Already struggling with finances, this is of obviously an impossibility.

The breakdown of the surgery and related costs in Filipino Pesos (PHP) is:

• Ultrasound: 8,000php

• Surgery: 120,000php

• Anaesthetist: 70,000php

• Antibiotic medication: 10,000php

• Hospital Membership: 20,000php (halves the cost of surgery)

Having successfully surgery would mean Jessa can get back to focusing on her family, her work and living a healthier life. With less medical costs, it means we can continue to concentrate on her kids being better supported in their education and other developmental needs.

Would you be able to give even a small amount? It would mean a lot and an investment in the future of Jessa’s health and their family.

We would love to be able to gift her this surgery as soon as possible. As I write this, she is yet again at the hospital and the visits are becoming more frequent with each visit costing hundreds of dollars. The need is now.

Thanks in advance. Love from Luke and Paris.

P.S. We will provide updates on how she is going and if able to get surgery, how that goes so you can see the impact you have.