OPERATION SMILE: My Mom’s Battle is a Battle Supporting Her Until She Wins

"I never knew a real hero until my mom became one..."

This is my mom, Elizabeth, known as Beth to many. She's now 48 years old. I took the first few photos a few years back on her birthday and on Mother's Day. My brother and I would usually wake up early in the morning to sneak out and buy her flowers and sometimes would pull her out of the house to visit my dad at his permanent residence in Mt. Matutum Cemetery. We lost our dad in 2012 and since then it was our mom who was our only source of strength. My dad was and will always be her first love and seeing her left alone to mend herself made me switch perspectives. But despite that, my mom mustered the courage she has inside and pushed through it all. She managed to turn the odds in our favor and with the Grace of God, I graduated college and my brother was able to finish grade school. In all of that, it was my mom who made it all possible. And I never realized that until two weeks ago, when I was forced to face it all head on. Spending time with her in the hospital as she go through tests after tests, therapy after therapy and medications after medications without even complaining made me see her in a different light –– it made me appreciate her more. Through all of this, I was hesitant but I suddenly found myself whispering for more time with her. I want to get to know her more, and love her more than ever, because it is all that she deserves. She deserves the world.

We were initially told that she has Spinal Cord Compression which required radio therapy to help her walk again. But as the days passed, complications arise and manifested in different ways which made it more difficult to go through with the therapy sessions. Her affected cells have already made her bones weak and are already affecting her mobility. The cause of the problem have already metastasized her bones and it is unfortunate. We weren't able to do the biopsy as we planned to do it after the radiotherapy to give my mom some time to rest at home. Due to that, the doctors suspect that it's Breast Cancer that has metastasised because my mom has a lump in her breast that has been there for years. She was admitted last June 5 and is still in the hospital at the moment. It's been more than two weeks now and the situation is already taking its toll on my mom. But I know my mom –– she is a fighter! She is fighting for her life and for us, her children. I am positive that God would still want her to be back in her usual self.

With God’s blessings, we were able to cover for her treatments in the hospital. However, as the bills continue to pile up, our meager funds are exhausting itself. We are losing confidence if we can continue to provide the same aid for her treatment as we have already maxed our resources for her expenditures. Because of that, I am humbly asking for your financial support and prayers to help her improve her condition. We are writing this letter with humility as we ask for your help because we certainly cannot do this alone. Mama is the center of our lives and we wish for her to be given another chance to live a normal and a happy one –– one that is free from pain and just full of joy and inspiration.

You can send your help through Bank Transfer.

BDO ACCCOUNT # 001750246390 - Nikki Jane Chantana Francisco

We are counting on you. We know that this is not an accident. And that any amount you will send us will be of great, great help. We are looking forward for a better future for her and we will be eternally grateful for your assistance in this time of sincere need.

Sincerely,

Her daughter, Nikki.

"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow..." - Mary Anne Radmache