Thank you so much for your generosity and continued support to Oliver and Hazel during this difficult time in their lives. Please follow Oliver and Hazel's Facebook pages linked here for their personal updates. Scroll down for updates posted here in GoFundMe. Just a reminder also that GoFundMe creates the default settings and I have no control on how the fundraiser options to click is set up so make sure you are checking if you are changing it to "one time donation" if you are not wanting to do monthly donations. If you have made this mistake, you can contact GoFundMe support.
Your continued support on their Facebook pages also is a great help to them:
My name is Minerva, and my family has been friends with Oliver (Bong) and Hazel Cortez long before they became known as "BongCort" and "Doc H/ Dok H" on social media. The start of 2026 has been a rollercoaster for these dear friends with the unexpected circumstances surrounding Oliver's health. Many of you may already be familiar with their journey, but for those who are new, Oliver has been battling issues with his sight for the past two years. Despite being seen by eye specialists at Johns Hopkins, a definite diagnosis has remained elusive, leading him to participate in a clinical trial.
In the past few months, Oliver's condition took a sudden turn for the worse. His vision deteriorated further, and his balance became so impaired that he could barely walk after the New Year's holiday. This led to an emergency room visit, where doctors discovered multiple lesions in his brain. He required extensive hospitalization and was transferred to Johns Hopkins for a brain biopsy. As of now, we are still awaiting the biopsy results, and regardless of the outcome, Oliver will need to continue with medical treatment for whatever is causing the lesions in his brain.
Even with health insurance, the out-of-pocket costs for medical care in the United States can be overwhelming—especially after a 10-day hospital stay, multiple specialty tests, and consultations with various specialists. Since Oliver began experiencing severe vision issues, he has required monthly treatments, and they have been struggling with medical bills totaling over $10,000. With his recent hospitalization, they now face even more expenses and still have many unanswered questions about his condition. They also still have a mortgage to pay to keep a roof over their family. Oliver has been unable to work for the past two years due to his visual deficits, and Hazel, as his primary caregiver, has also been limited in her ability to work—especially now, given their current circumstances. For this reason, our circle of friends and acquaintances have thought of setting up this GoFundMe account for Oliver and Hazel to help cover their mounting medical bills, ongoing treatments, travel for care, and other related expenses to take care of their children. Oliver and Hazel are beyond grateful for the prayers and support they have received so far. Any contribution, no matter the amount, will help ease their financial burden as they continue to face these challenges. Your continued following and subscription to their pages will also help them. May the good Lord bless you for your kindness and generosity.