Help Save My Best Friend - Breast Cancer

This is Maureen. I met her our first year of High School.

For most of us, our high school marks the beginning. For Maureen, it marked an end. During our senior year, her mom passed away from brain cancer.

But anyone who knows Maureen knows one thing: she has the spirit of a fighter.

She got stronger.

She gave birth to a beautiful boy I proudly call my godson.

And it was that mother’s unconditional love for her son that pushed her to be an even better version of herself.

Despite the difficulties Filipinos face when applying for a visa abroad, she pushed forward and got a student visa in Australia. She studies during the day and works at night so she could send money to her son Quinton who is 11, and her brother who also has a child. She works very hard to provide for the people she loves.

Just when everything was falling into place and she could finally have her son with her in Australia, Maureen felt a lump on her breast and was diagnosed as stage 3 breast cancer. Why was this happening and why did it have to happen now? She’s a Filipino citizen on a student visa in Australia. All alone, no family with her, and no one but her to pay the bills.

Thankfully, Maureen has created a family from her friends. And it is to those friends and their friends and their friends’ friends that we ask for help.

Last week, her first round of chemotherapy began. God came through right before it started in the form of the insurance company covering around 85% of her chemotherapy. With the chemo making her too weak to work, Maureen needs enough funds to help her cover medication, rent, bills, groceries, and the like.

No amount is too small. Maureen is in the fight for her life and any amount is greatly appreciated.