Disclaimer: This message was written by my close friend Carl, the son of the patient. I’m posting this on his behalf to help him reach more people.

Hi everyone,

My name is Carl, and I’m reaching out not just as a son, but as someone doing everything he can to save the life of the most important woman in his world—my mother, Odessa Cerna.

We are a small, close-knit family in the Philippines. My father, a former OFW, and my mom, a strong and selfless woman, raised me with love, hard work, and sacrifice. We don’t have much, but we’ve always managed to live simply through our tiny sari-sari store and the income from my work-from-home job.

But everything changed this past May.

Mama began experiencing uncontrollable bleeding, along with intense pain in her lower abdomen and hips. At first, we thought it was menopause or something manageable. But the pain worsened, and her energy drained. When we finally took her for tests, we received the news no family wants to hear:

Stage IVB Endometrial Adenocarcinoma—an aggressive uterine cancer that has already spread to her liver, peritoneum, and lymph nodes.

Her condition was already fragile. Her vital signs were unstable, and she had severely low blood levels due to the continuous bleeding. Before her biopsy, she needed two bags of blood transfusion just to be strong enough for the procedure. She was also prescribed medications for her cholesterol and uric acid to help stabilize her.

The doctor made it clear: treatment must begin urgently.

If we wait too long, the tumor could start blocking her ureters, kidneys, or even her colon, which could lead to life-threatening complications like organ damage or sepsis.

Right now, I watch her suffer daily pain—pain that leaves her curled in bed, with tears in her eyes. And yet, she still tells me,

“We’ll fight this together.”

But the truth is, we can’t do this alone.

Her doctors have prescribed six cycles of chemotherapy (Paclitaxel + Carboplatin), along with supportive medications and possible surgery afterward. But the cost of her care is far beyond what our family can afford.

We earn around ₱30,000 per month (roughly $535) from my job and our store. It’s enough to survive, but not to fight cancer. Her full treatment is expected to cost between $9,000 and $12,500—not including hospital stays, lab work, emergency care, or the daily medications she now depends on.

We’ve used up all our savings. We’ve stretched everything we have.

And now, I’m here, asking for help—something I never imagined I’d have to do.

If you can spare even a small amount—$1, $5, or $10—it would be a huge help for my mom’s healing and comfort.

If you’re unable to donate, we understand. Sharing this story or keeping her in your thoughts means more than I can express.

She’s not just a patient. She’s my mom. A wife. A woman who still wants to live—and who’s fighting to stay with us every single day.

Thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart.

– Carl