Help Mama Mila Dance Again

Hello everyone,

First and foremost, thank you for taking the time out of your busy lives to read this and support my mom in any way you can.

For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Michelle, and I’m an only child. I’m starting this GoFundMe in hopes of bringing some light and support to a dark and difficult time in my life.

Recently, my beloved mom, affectionately known as “Mama” or “Mama Mila”, suffered a stroke. She lives over 7,000 miles away from me in the Philippines, and hearing the news from so far away was absolutely heartbreaking. I was told she was talking with a cousin when he noticed her speech had become slurred. She nearly collapsed but was thankfully caught in time. My uncle happened to be off work that day and was able to rush her to the nearest hospital, where she was admitted to the ICU for four days.

During that time, she couldn’t eat on her own and had to be fed through a nasogastric tube. When she was finally moved to a regular hospital room, the physical therapists began working with her but she could only sit up briefly and stand for a short time. It completely broke me. My mom has always been full of life. At 73, she was still attending Zumba classes and dancing regularly. To see her unable to move on her own is something I never imagined.

Mama Mila is now back home in the Philippines and continuing her recovery, but the road ahead is long. She needs physical therapy, medications, rehabilitation equipment, and ongoing care to regain her strength and independence. Our goal is also to bring her here to the U.S. so she can be closer to me and receive better care, something that will require additional support.

All she wants now is to heal, to hold her grandkids again, and to be with the family she misses so deeply. That dream of simply being with the people she loves most is what motivates her every day.

This journey has been emotionally, mentally, and financially overwhelming. As much as we’ve always been the kind of people who hesitate to ask for help, I now realize we can’t do this alone. I’m humbly asking for any support you can offer whether through a donation, a share, or a prayer. Every little bit helps.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. With your help, I truly believe we’ll see Mama Mila dancing again back on her feet, full of joy, surrounded by love, and maybe even back in a Zumba class soon.

With love and gratitude,

Michelle

This is Michelle’s statement. I’m helping her share it through this GoFundMe page.