We are writing on behalf of our family, particularly our father, Huub Luyk, with a hopeful heart and a request for assistance.

Since mid-2022, my father has battled stomach issues, including cramps, nausea, diarrhoea, fatigue, and severe weight loss. Despite treatment for amoebiasis, his symptoms persisted, and his relationship with food became fraught with discomfort. Almost everything he eats causes discomfort, whether while chewing and swallowing or during digestion and frustratingly, most of what he eats, he cannot taste at all, which has been a particular struggle. After nearly a year of testing and his weight plummeting to just 52 kilos (115 pounds), he was finally diagnosed with Crohn's disease in November 2023.

In 2024, my parents worked to manage the illness. While some remission periods occurred, his progress has been challenging. He remains malnourished at 55 kilos (121 pounds), with significant fatigue and gastrointestinal distress. His doctors have now recommended a costly medicine, Ustekinumab, reserved for severe cases, as standard treatments have been ineffective.

Their Story

Our father has always been a hero in our lives. An electrical engineer, he moved to the Philippines in April of 1976 to work with a charity teaching electrical appliance repair and house wiring to out-of-school youth affected by the construction of large hydroelectric and irrigation projects. He met our mother, a community organiser and skills training supervisor at the Baguio branch of the same charity. Rather than returning to the Netherlands once his contract with the charity had finished, he decided to make the Philippines his home and continued to find ways to serve and help his chosen home.

My parents embody honesty, hard work, and selflessness—values we all strive to uphold. They have been pillars of their community, consistently the first to help others, even now. Throughout our upbringing, they have been involved in countless impactful projects, charities, and missions. Some that stand out include setting up a roof tile factory in Nueva Vizcaya and teaching NGOs in India to do the same to support their communities. They've also helped establish a school for missionary youth in Baguio and overseen the building of a new airstrip on the island of Agutaya, Palawan, and a low-cost subdivision on typhoon struck Samar Island. Their work has always focused on making a difference in the lives of others rather than solely on financial gain. They are the type of individuals everyone turns to for help but who never ask for anything in return.

Our Appeal

Now, we need your help. If our father is to complete his entire treatment course, we need your support. We aim to raise €20,000 (approximately £16,500/$20,100/₱1,220,000). This will cover medication (€11,000), lab tests and diagnostics (€4,000), additional medicines and supplements (€3,000), and hospital travel (€2,000). In the Philippines, healthcare is paid out-of-pocket beyond what PhilHealth Insurance provides. While my parents have this insurance, it doesn't cover this treatment. They've applied for aid but still face this significant financial burden.

We're reaching out to the community our father has served, asking for your support. Please consider making a donation to our cause. Any contribution, no matter how small, makes a meaningful impact. Thank you for reading our story and for any help you can provide.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Iza & Shane

Ian & Candice

Irha & Mary