Hello,

My name is Laura, and I am reaching out with a heavy heart but a hopeful spirit to ask for your support to help me and my family as we go through this very difficult time.

My husband, Jhon Edward, 42 years old, has been courageously battling stage IV Hodgkin Lymphoma for almost two years. He was first diagnosed in November 2023 and has since undergone 8 cycles of chemotherapy and 15 sessions of radiation therapy in the Philippines. Unfortunately, the cancer did not respond well to these treatments.

By God’s grace and favor, our permanent residency was granted, and in December 2024, my husband and children were finally able to join me here in Canada after more than 10 years of living apart as a long-distance family. We are truly grateful for the blessing of being reunited.

In January 2025, my husband began receiving care from specialists under Canada’s healthcare system. After a series of tests, PET scans, and two biopsies, he was diagnosed with Stage IV Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma (not in remission). To help control the disease, his hematologist advised starting treatment as soon as possible.

From April to July 2025, he completed 4 cycles of chemotherapy (a total of 8 sessions) under Clinical Trial using GDP. His PET scan results showed very encouraging progress—his lymphoma had shrunk by more than 50% of its original size. This is a positive sign, making it the right time to move forward with the next step: a Stem Cell Transplant (SCT). For patients with Hodgkin Lymphoma, an Autologous Stem Cell Transplant is often essential in order to cure and completely eliminate cancer cells.

The past months have been incredibly challenging for me, not only as a mother but also as a wife supporting my husband through this most difficult journey. I took a leave of absence from work and availed myself of the family caregiving benefit (EI) for 15 weeks, which has now ended. However, I still need to take extended time off to care for my husband during his transplant and recovery. He cannot undergo the treatment without a dedicated caregiver, and I will remain by his side throughout this process. A caregiver plays a crucial role in ensuring recovery and providing 24-hour support.

As the provider for my family, I am trying my best to manage our daily needs, pay bills, and keep things stable for our children. But at this point, I cannot do it alone. In order to ease some of our financial burden, I humbly ask for your kind help in covering our basic living expenses in the coming weeks. Any amount—no matter how small—would truly mean so much to us and make a big difference.

If you are unable to give, even just sharing this message would be a great help.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for reading, sharing, and supporting us during this challenging and stressful time. May God bless your kindness and generosity.

With love and gratitude,

Laura Coballes&Family