Hi, my name is Yanna and I'm in Calgary, Canada as an international student studying Early Childhood Education. Although I've worked very hard as a teacher the past 23 years, we have used up all our savings to come here to Canada only 8 months ago in search of a better future for our child.

My 76-year old dad Rico has been taking care of my 77-year old mom Tess since she suffered a stroke in 2020. He feeds her, gives her baths, medications, changes her diapers, and adjusts her home-based hospital bed constantly – day and night for the past 4 years. My brother and sister both have jobs in the Philippines, but they have their own families and expenses to take care of. We cannot afford a private nurse for mom and she prefers only dad to take care of her.

Papa has recently been diagnosed with a bile duct obstruction that is causing him to be bloated, hyper acidic, jaundiced, and unable to eat or sleep well. He also has edema in his legs and numerous lumps all around his neck. He has a low-grade fever almost every day and is unable to get up.

Papa is a quiet, kind, hardworking, and uncomplaining person and we didn't even know he was sick because he never told us until it was unbearable. The gastroenterologist has informed us that papa needs an Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and a biopsy of the lumps on his neck.

 Being the eldest child I feel helpless because I cannot help financially. Because I am currently a full-time student (so I can graduate sooner) my husband is the only one working right now, on a minimum wage. We can barely make ends meet with the high cost of living. Things will be better when I am done studying and can work, but right now, we really need all the help we can get.

 We would greatly appreciate any amount that you can send our way to help get Papa the medical attention that he needs.

 Thank you very, very much!

Yanna