(Hi all - this fundraiser is being led by Dr Aileen Duldulao, Maria's mentor and friend based in Portland, OR)

Hello everyone,

My name is Maria Theresa Dizon, and I am humbly asking for your help during one of the most difficult times our family has ever faced.

Over the past week, a Category 5 Super Typhoon devastated Saipan, raging for nearly three days (over 50 hours) with sustained winds reaching 185 miles per hour. It was a terrifying, exhausting experience that felt like it would never end. We held on to hope each day that the winds and relentless rain would stop—but they didn’t.

When the storm finally passed, the damage was overwhelming.

Roofs were torn from homes, causing severe flooding and water damage. What little we were able to salvage is now at risk of mold. Our family home has been reduced to piles of broken wood and twisted tin. It’s hard to believe that this was once the place we called home.

My elderly family members—both nearing their 70s and living with chronic health conditions—are especially vulnerable right now. My mother is a cancer warrior, and this is the third major typhoon she has endured in the last decade. They are the reason I returned home from Portland, Oregon, years ago—to care for them. Now, more than ever, they need stability, safety, and support.

Even after the storm, the challenges have not stopped.

There is no running water for basic needs like bathing, washing dishes, or flushing toilets. Electricity is still out, leaving us to sleep in extreme heat and watch food spoil without refrigeration. Gas lines stretch for hours, with no guarantee of access. Drinking water is limited, requiring long waits with strict rationing. Roads remain blocked by fallen power poles and large trees. The Internet and communication are unreliable.

To make matters worse, when we returned to our home after sheltering, we discovered it had been looted. Essential supplies like gas containers, water gallons, and even towels were stolen—items we desperately needed to survive day to day.

How Your Support Will Help

Your donation—or even simply sharing this fundraiser—would mean so much to us.

Funds will go directly toward:

Daily essentials: water, food, gas

Basic survival needs while all utilities are down

Replacing damaged items/appliances/necessities

Beginning to recover to a safe living space or finding a more stable housing solution

Assistance with clearing heavy debris

Every dollar brings us one step closer to stability.

From Our Family to Yours

We understand that times are difficult for many, especially given everything happening in the world. If you’re unable to give, sharing this page with your community would mean just as much to us.

Above all, we ask for your prayers, kindness, and support as we try to move forward and rebuild our lives.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

— Maria & Family