Hello, everyone. My name is Jerald Jolito. I am a high school biology teacher at Pecos High School (Go, Eagles!), Pecos TX. I moved to the United States to provide a better life for my family back in the Philippines. As a science teacher, I have given my heart to provide my students with the best education that I can provide for them. On a day to day basis, I have been helping my students experience what it feels like to succeed in academics. Through hard work and dedication, our high school achieved a passing rate of 98+ percent in the biology STAAR EOC. I also teach concurrent biology, which enables students to get college science credits even before they graduate from high school, and robotics, which introduces our students to the world of engineering. More importantly, though, I have been going out of my way to help students that have been deemed "delinquent" find their niche in the school system. Over the years, I have tried to convince them that they can do so much more than they think they can. I do this not through academic work, but by giving them compassion, respect, support and, occasionally, a shoulder to cry on. The greatest reward that I have gotten from teaching is seeing my "delinquents" turn their lives around, and then come back and thank me for my help. I apologize for the long introduction. I just wanted you to get to know me and what I do before I ask for your help. 

I am raising money for my mother. She is currently in the Intenstive Care Unit of St. Paul's Hospital, Iloilo City Hospital, Philippines. She is confined for coronary artery blockage, failing kidneys and h

ypoxia. This is her third medical confinement in less than two months. The doctors said that her heart may give up soon, and that she needs to get better and get a coronary bypass surgery. The frist picture attached here was my mom about two months ago. It was taken a few days before she got sick. She was out on a date with my dad, to whom she's been married for 41 years. As you can see, she is a vibrant, graceful, person with a beautiful smile. Whenever I think of her, I always imagine her as she was when I left the Philippines eight years ago, a God-loving woman who will do anything to keep her family happy. The second picture is how she looks like now. I apologize for the unpleasant nature of the second photograph. I just wanted to show you how different her physical appearance has become within a few weeks. As you can see, her body is deteriorating. I am afraid that we will lose her very soon if she does not get the surgery that she needs. I cannot imagine my life without my mom. She has been the source of  strength and encouragement in my life. When I was younger, my dad was always away because of his job, and she raised three rowdy boys pretty much on her own. I am who I am and I achieved what I have because of her. The last time I saw her personally was seven years ago, when I moved to the United States. Since then, we have been in constant contact through Facebook and Skype, but it's different having your parents close by. Every year, I hoped that I would be able to visit them during the summer, but airfare is expensive, and being on a teacher's salary doesn't really permit that. Even now that she is really sick, I wish that I could go home and be by her side. I want to let her know how much I love her and I want to take care of her...but I can't. That is why I am doing this. I am hoping to touch your hearts so that we can keep her alive and improve her health. Without your help, she will not be able to get the surgery that she needs. The money will be used for the cost of her medical treatment. This includes (1) transporting her by air from our home island (Iloilo) to the Philippine Heart Center in Manila, Philippines,   (2) covering the cost of her Coronary Artery Bypass Graft, (3) transporting her back to their home in Iloilo, and (4) purchasing equipment and/ or medicine after surgery.

I really hope and pray that your hearts will be touched by my story. Any amount that you can give us will be a lifeline to her and a source of hope for me. I really want to be able to see my mom again, hug her, and tell her that I love her. Please help me be able to do that.