Please be my angel 😇

Hello, thank you for sparing a little of your precious time reading this campaign/ letter. May God bless you.

My name is Michelle Marquez, 30 years old, from Philippines. I used to work as a nurse in Saudi Arabia way back in 2012. I had 2 years contract but unfortunately I was diagnosed to have SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematous). Due to my illness, I decided to just go back to the Philippines to seek proper treatment.

SLE is a disease of the immune system. It is where the person's immune system attacks their own body. (Selena Gomez is a lupus patient with a similar case like mine.)

Living with SLE is very difficult. From expensive medicine (to prevent flare ups) to nearly living in isolation because we’re not allowed to go outside, especially to a crowded places, as we can easily get infected, and that will trigger our lupus. I also experience the everyday joint pains, facial swelling, skin rashes, allopecia (hair loss) and the worst case, is kidney failure.

Which started in 2013. When I came back to PH, I thought everything was back to normal. I was employed as a site nurse in a construction company in Manila. I lived like nothing is wrong inside my body. But as time goes by, more signs and symptoms came out and became even worse. It came to the point that I can’t eat anymore, I can’t think properly, I can’t breath, I can’t even lie flat on my bed as I feel like I’m drowning and dying.

I was brought to the hospital then came the big news, the doctor said that I needed to go for a dialysis. And that’s for a lifetime treatment. I felt numb that I couldn’t speak. Tears just filled my eyes as I was in denial of everything that happened to me.

I also saw my father crying. A single parent with nothing left and was hoping that her daughter who’ve finally became a nurse could help him, but that nurse, me, became an instant person with disabilities. I was very disappointed on myself and it broke my heart thinking how my father felt.

But I couldn’t turn back time anymore. I know that I just needed to be strong and accept my current situation. I know that God has his own reason why.

Now, I am on a dialysis for 5 years. Three times in a week, for four hours each time. Dialysis alone cost a lot and it’s definitely draining all our resources. I still tried to work and help despite of my condition but my illness has prevented me from having a stable and full time job. Thank God, there are people who are kind enough to share their blessings, my relatives and also some organizations and other public agencies that extended their help for us who are in need, but i know that it’s not for a lifetime. Someday they will need their own money for their own needs and family.

My only hope is to have a kidney transplant but the cost of this is very expensive. They asked us to prepare atleast 2 Million Pesos for the operation because my father got rejected as my donor and i needed to be lined up for a cadaveric donor which doubles up the amount needed. It’s a long way to go. I’m hoping that you could help me and my father raise this amount of money. Any amount will do and will be greatly appreciated. If you can’t donate, I hope that you could just include me to your prayers because I believe above anything else that prayers are more effective and powerful. That with God, nothing is impossible. I am still alive now and fighting, thus I consider this my second chance of life. Help me extend this precious life God has given me. Thank you so much.

You may send your donations to my personal account as gogetfunding is restricted to accept donation through paypal accounts.

1. Paypal

[email protected]

2. Metrobank McArthur Hi-way

Michelle Marquez

Account #: 3733373264190

3. Bank of Philippine island (BPI) McArthur Hi-way

Michelle Marquez

Account #: 0539163299

At least help me share and spread this with your friends and colleagues. Thank you. God bless you and your loved ones.