- I
"God loves me, he opened my eyes to see all my mistakes and repent. He is sending people in my life to teach me ...I am thankful there is God"
This is what Claire wrote on her last email to me despite of all the pain and struggle she's been going through everyday.
I admire her faith and strength. It is actually hard to believe but this is what keeps her going in her fight to battle cancer.
It breaks my heart thinking of the pain she has to endure everyday.
She's a very good person and certainly does not deserve what she's going through.
For all those who do not know of her story, here it is.
Soon after her older sister lost her battle with Endometrial cancer back in 2013 which left Claire beyond devastated, Claire was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. 3 months after her sister passed away, Claire went through surgery and they removed her ovary and Fallopian tube. She went through chemo therapy the following year for 7 months. From Feb. of 2014 through Sept. of 2014. After months of non-stop bleeding, she then went for a check-up and they found tumor on her uterus and cervix this time. Her cancer & tumor have metastasized. They did a FULL hysterectomy and did another round of chemo therapy from October till March of 2015. Things were looking up again for her for a short while. She was really positive and excited with the thought of starting up a business again and make some money.
July 2015, she went in for a routine pap smear. They felt a bump in her genitals, another tumor which led to another round of Chemo. Unfortunately, the treatment did not help and made the tumor grow even larger now causing her unfathomable pain and grief everyday. She is having trouble passing urine and stool because of it. Pain medications can only do so much for her now. The only option is to undergo surgery (for the 3rd time!) to remove the tumor. Surgery will cost them 500,000 PHP which is roughly 11, 000 USD. This is just part of the many medical bills they've been paying and still has to pay. They've lost their family business ever since she and her sister got sick. That was their only source of income. Their lifelong savings are gone. Their relatives and friends have all been gracious in giving them a little bit of financial support all throughout but they are now at the point where they need much more... a lot more! They do not have medical insurance in the Philippines. Everything's out of pocket.
I am just a concerned friend who wishes I can do more than what I can give.
Setting up this page for her I feel like is my only way of giving that extra help.
By reaching out to everyone and asking a little of your spare help in hopes to raise some money to cover her medical bills.
I don't know if this is going to be of any success, but at least I tried. I have only put a challenge of $1,000 even though I know this is just a tiny fraction of what they need but every little thing is SOMETHING and would MEAN EVERYTHING to Claire and her family. Their family may not be able to repay your kind act, but I'm sure blessings will come your way a thousand folds. One Love to all.
Pictured is her celebrating her Birthday last year with her Father, brother and a family friend.
Please help to continue her battle against cancer and so she can celebrate many more birthdays for years to come!!!
*** just an additional background of what her family has gone through over the years so you get the bigger picture of what Claire's family has been battling over the decades**
Their family has been battling this dreadful disease since 1990 when their mother died from Brain Tumor.
Their youngest brother was operated with the same case as their mother back in 1998.
Their stepmother lost her 7 year long battle with cancer as well back in 2005.
2013 when the eldest sister passed from cancer and now Claire is battling her own.
I know…. What and Why right?
I’m at a loss for words as well as I have never heard of such a thing in my life which is why I was so compelled
to do this and reach out to people .. for both financial and moral support that you can give to the family.
This is what Claire wrote on her last email to me despite of all the pain and struggle she's been going through everyday.
I admire her faith and strength. It is actually hard to believe but this is what keeps her going in her fight to battle cancer.
It breaks my heart thinking of the pain she has to endure everyday.
She's a very good person and certainly does not deserve what she's going through.
For all those who do not know of her story, here it is.
Soon after her older sister lost her battle with Endometrial cancer back in 2013 which left Claire beyond devastated, Claire was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. 3 months after her sister passed away, Claire went through surgery and they removed her ovary and Fallopian tube. She went through chemo therapy the following year for 7 months. From Feb. of 2014 through Sept. of 2014. After months of non-stop bleeding, she then went for a check-up and they found tumor on her uterus and cervix this time. Her cancer & tumor have metastasized. They did a FULL hysterectomy and did another round of chemo therapy from October till March of 2015. Things were looking up again for her for a short while. She was really positive and excited with the thought of starting up a business again and make some money.
July 2015, she went in for a routine pap smear. They felt a bump in her genitals, another tumor which led to another round of Chemo. Unfortunately, the treatment did not help and made the tumor grow even larger now causing her unfathomable pain and grief everyday. She is having trouble passing urine and stool because of it. Pain medications can only do so much for her now. The only option is to undergo surgery (for the 3rd time!) to remove the tumor. Surgery will cost them 500,000 PHP which is roughly 11, 000 USD. This is just part of the many medical bills they've been paying and still has to pay. They've lost their family business ever since she and her sister got sick. That was their only source of income. Their lifelong savings are gone. Their relatives and friends have all been gracious in giving them a little bit of financial support all throughout but they are now at the point where they need much more... a lot more! They do not have medical insurance in the Philippines. Everything's out of pocket.
I am just a concerned friend who wishes I can do more than what I can give.
Setting up this page for her I feel like is my only way of giving that extra help.
By reaching out to everyone and asking a little of your spare help in hopes to raise some money to cover her medical bills.
I don't know if this is going to be of any success, but at least I tried. I have only put a challenge of $1,000 even though I know this is just a tiny fraction of what they need but every little thing is SOMETHING and would MEAN EVERYTHING to Claire and her family. Their family may not be able to repay your kind act, but I'm sure blessings will come your way a thousand folds. One Love to all.
Pictured is her celebrating her Birthday last year with her Father, brother and a family friend.
Please help to continue her battle against cancer and so she can celebrate many more birthdays for years to come!!!
*** just an additional background of what her family has gone through over the years so you get the bigger picture of what Claire's family has been battling over the decades**
Their family has been battling this dreadful disease since 1990 when their mother died from Brain Tumor.
Their youngest brother was operated with the same case as their mother back in 1998.
Their stepmother lost her 7 year long battle with cancer as well back in 2005.
2013 when the eldest sister passed from cancer and now Claire is battling her own.
I know…. What and Why right?
I’m at a loss for words as well as I have never heard of such a thing in my life which is why I was so compelled
to do this and reach out to people .. for both financial and moral support that you can give to the family.
Organizer and beneficiary
Maria Asuncion-Steinke
Beneficiary