A Daughter’s Plea: Help My Father with His Medical Needs

A Daughter’s Plea: Help My Father with His Medical Needs

My name is Princess, and I am the youngest in our family. I am writing this not only as a daughter asking for help, but as a daughter who is desperately hoping for a little more time with her father.

My father is 67 years old, and my mother is also a senior citizen. Before illness took so much of his strength, my father was a fisherman.

For decades, he would wake up and go out to sea, often spending hours under the heat of the sun. He would row small boats and travel far into the sea just to catch enough fish to bring home and put food on our table.

He did not have an easy life.

There were days when the sea was rough, the sun was unforgiving, and his body was already exhausted. But he continued.

He had a family to feed.

He had children depending on him.

And somehow, he always found the strength to say, “Kaya pa.”

I can still do it.

Looking back now, I realize that my father spent much of his life using every bit of his strength for us.

He didn't choose to become sick.

He didn't choose for his body to become weak.

But during the years when our family was struggling, he had no choice but to push through his exhaustion. Rest was something he could not always afford. Even when his body was already tired, he continued working because he wanted to make sure his children could eat and that there would be something on our table.

Perhaps he gave too much of his strength to us.

And now, we are facing the consequences of the years he spent sacrificing himself for his family.

Today, my father is suffering from complicated health problems involving his respiratory system, weak lungs, and cardiovascular health. He requires continuous medical attention, maintenance medicines, and oxygen support.

The man who once spent his days rowing a small boat into the deep sea is now at a point where even breathing can be a struggle.

And as his daughter, that breaks my heart.

I started working when I was only 16 years old.

Life required me to grow up early. I learned how to work, provide for myself, and help my family while still young.

Among my siblings, some were unable to finish high school, while others married early and started families of their own. I am now 28 years old, and I am currently the only one in our family who has reached college. I am now in my second year.

To be honest, I never planned to go back to school.

After years of working, I was already exhausted. I thought that maybe studying was no longer meant for me. I had responsibilities to carry, bills to help with, and a family to support.

But about two years ago, my father told me something that I will never forget.

He told me that he only wished to see at least one of his children finish college.

It was such a simple wish.

But it meant everything to me.

So despite being tired from work, I decided to pursue my studies.

I wanted to give my Papang the chance to see his youngest daughter accomplish something he had always hoped for.

I never expected that while I was finally trying to reach that dream, his health would begin taking away our time together.

I am currently working from home in the BPO industry, earning a minimum salary while studying.

I do everything I can to help my family and contribute to my father's medical needs. But my parents are both senior citizens now, and the expenses for his medicines, consultations, laboratory tests, treatments, and oxygen needs have become more than I can manage alone.

Sometimes, I find myself asking:

What if I finally graduate, but Papang isn't here to see it?

That is the thought that hurts me the most.

I don't want my father to spend his remaining years worrying about whether we can afford his medicines.

I don't want him to feel that the strength he gave us all those years was for nothing.

And most of all, I want him to stay long enough to see the dream he once told me about.

I want him to see me wearing my graduation toga.

I want him to see his youngest daughter walk across that stage.

I want to look into the crowd and know that the man who spent decades rowing into the sea to provide for us is there, watching me finally accomplish the dream he once wished for.

That is why I am humbly asking for your help.

I am not asking for a luxurious life.

I am asking for time.

Time for my father to receive the medicines he needs.

Time for him to receive proper medical care.

Time for him to breathe a little easier.

Time for our family to have more moments with him.

And hopefully, time for him to see his youngest daughter graduate from college.

The funds raised through this campaign will be used for his maintenance medicines, medical consultations, laboratory tests, hospital and treatment expenses, oxygen needs, and other necessary medical care.

Every donation, no matter how small, can make a difference.

You are not simply helping us pay for medicine. You are helping us buy more time with our father.

If you cannot donate, please consider sharing this campaign. A simple share may reach someone who can help.

I know everyone has their own struggles. I know asking for help is not easy. But I am willing to set aside my pride because I don't want to reach the end of this journey wishing that I had asked for help when I still could.

My father spent his youth fighting against the waves so that his children could have food on the table.

Now, I want to fight for him.

I want to give something back to the man who spent his life giving everything he had to us.

From a daughter who started working at 16, who returned to school at 26 because of her father's simple dream, and who is now doing everything she can to keep that dream alive:

Please help me give my Papang more time.

More time to live.

More time to breathe.

More time to be with the family he worked so hard for.

And, if God allows it, more time to see his youngest daughter graduate.

Thank you for reading our story. Thank you for every prayer, every share, every kind word, and every amount you can give.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for helping me fight for my father.

— Princess, his youngest daughter