Fighting for Mom: Hospital & Recovery Support

Hello! I am Joan Gatchalian Mateo, an international student here in Australia. I am humbly reaching out to ask for financial assistance for the medical expenses of my mother, Teresita Gatchalian Mateo, who has been battling multiple serious health conditions.

Her health journey started on September 28, 2024, when she was first hospitalized and diagnosed with diabetes, a urinary tract infection (UTI), and kidney disease. She stayed in the hospital for 5 days to undergo treatment.

Then, on March 23, 2025, she suffered a stroke and was diagnosed with an acute hemorrhagic stroke affecting the left thalamus (acute intracerebral hemorrhage). After 5 days of confinement, she had to be transferred to the ICU where she remained for several weeks. The hospital we brought her to unfortunately does not offer charity assistance or bill discounts, and we had no choice but to borrow money to cover her ICU bills.

On April 19, 2025, my mother had to be rushed back to the ICU due to an acute kidney injury. She remained there until April 24, 2025. Sadly, before we could even settle the debts from her previous hospitalizations, she was readmitted again on June 24, 2025, due to dangerously low blood pressure, low sodium levels, and elevated creatinine. She was also found to have a mass in her abdomen, causing difficulty in urination and requiring further observation and treatment.

Our family is emotionally, physically, and financially exhausted. We are doing everything we can, but the mounting medical bills are now beyond our means.

We are sincerely asking for any financial help you could extend to support my mother’s ongoing treatment and care. More than anything, we are also asking for your prayers—that she may overcome these challenges and recover from all her illnesses.

Thank you so much for your kindness and support.