Hi, my name is Maria, and I’m the second youngest of five siblings. I’m reaching out with a humble and hopeful heart to ask for help for our Papa, Ed, who was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 gastric cancer.

Our Papa is 70 years old and has always been the quiet strength of our family — a hardworking, humble man who spent his life doing everything he could to provide for us. Like many fathers, he rarely asked for anything for himself. His greatest joy has always been seeing his children and grandchildren safe, together, and cared for.

Seven years ago, our family made the difficult decision to move to the United States in search of better opportunities. Today, only my oldest sister and I are here in the U.S., while the rest of our family — including our parents and three other siblings with their families — remain in Manila, Philippines.

Earlier this year, our world changed.

In February, our Papa was diagnosed with Stage 4 gastric (stomach) cancer. Like many cases of gastric cancer, the early symptoms were subtle and easily mistaken for common stomach issues such as indigestion or acid reflux. By the time we discovered something was seriously wrong, the disease had already progressed.

Further tests confirmed that the cancer has spread to his liver.

While this diagnosis has been heartbreaking for our family, his doctors have recommended that he begin chemotherapy as soon as possible to help slow the progression of the disease and control the growth of the tumors.

While the treatment he will begin is palliative, it gives us something incredibly meaningful — more time together as a family. Your support will help ease the financial burden of his treatment and allow us to focus on what matters most: making the most of the time we still have with him and creating more memories with his grandchildren.

His treatment plan requires chemotherapy every two weeks, along with ongoing hospital visits, medications, tests, and monitoring throughout his care.

One of the hardest parts of this journey is the distance. My sister and I are thousands of miles away in the United States and cannot be there physically to care for him. While our family in Manila is doing everything they can to support him day-to-day, we want to do everything we can from here to help him receive the care he needs.

Our Papa is still the same loving man we have always known — strong in spirit and hopeful despite the challenges ahead. We simply want to give him the best chance to keep fighting and to spend more precious time with the people who love him most.

The funds raised through this campaign will go directly toward:

Cancer treatment is incredibly expensive, and our goal is to make sure our Papa receives the care he needs without our family having to choose between treatment and financial hardship.

Any contribution—no matter how small—will mean so much to our family. If you’re unable to donate, simply sharing this page can help us reach others who may be able to help.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness, support, and prayers during this incredibly difficult time.

If possible, please consider covering GoFundMe’s processing fees so more of your donation can go directly toward my Papa's care.

With gratitude,

Maria and Family

For those in the Philippines who prefer direct bank transfer:

Bank: BPI

Account Name: Expedito Fernandez

Account Number: 0666410516

If you donate via bank transfer, please message us so we can properly acknowledge and track your support.