Hi, Friends!

 

Today, I am reaching out with a heavy heart but also with hope to share the story of someone who means the world to me.

 

Those of you who know my Mom (Jo Dagondong) know that she is one of the most joyful and vivacious people one could ever meet. She is very friendly, generous, and tenderhearted to anyone, regardless of their walk of life. She is known as Mama Jo or Ate Jo because of her caring and motherly nature. Mama Jo has wholeheartedly given her time to serve the church and our community in the island of Philippines with all that she has for God's greatest glory.

 

Unfortunately, Mama Jo started to experience waves of pain in her chest early this year, 2024. Just this month, August, at ACE Dumaguete City, Philippines, Mama Jo has been diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer.

 

The GOOD news is, Mama Jo has good doctors who reassured her that there is a treatment option available locally. She was hesitant with chemotherapy at first, but with the debilitating pain she’s enduring and the guidance of the doctors, she’s now convinced to go through the treatment.

 

However, it became painfully clear that the journey ahead would be emotionally and physically challenging, as well as, financially overwhelming for us. She has to undergo 8 cycles of chemotherapy and then surgery and after that radiation.

 

Cancer is no joke. Like anyone going through this illness, the scale of impact on Mama Jo’s life is hard to overstate. It is even harder to know the long-term effects of the treatments, the follow-up medications, and, of course, the disease itself. But, in all of this, my family and I trust God in this process.

 

I am organizing this page to help alleviate some of her financial burden and give her comfort so she can focus on taking care of herself and beating the cancer.

 

My Mom has always been such a source of strength, joy, incredible kindness, and invaluable friendship in many lives.

 

Please join me in supporting her in this battle. Every donation, no matter how small, will make a tangible difference, helping Mama Jo cover some medical expenses, prescription medications, and other unforeseen costs.

Thank you very much for the love, prayer and support. God bless!!!

 

“A friend is the medicine for all diseases.”