My name is Ira Gwen Zara, and I am a registered pharmacist from the Philippines.

I never had an easy beginning.

I grew up in a broken family and, from a young age, I learned how to raise myself and keep going even when I felt like I had no one to turn to. Growing up without the presence and support of my parents left me with deep emotional wounds and trauma that I have struggled with for years. There were times when I felt completely alone.

But I held on to my dreams.

I became a consistent honor student throughout my education. I studied hard because I believed education could change my life. I told myself that if I could become successful, I could overcome the circumstances I grew up in and build a better future.

And I did.

I graduated and became a registered pharmacist here in the Philippines.

For the first time, I thought maybe life was finally getting better.

After almost five years of working, I was finally able to save money for my dream of working abroad as a pharmacist. Every peso represented years of sacrifice, hard work, and hope for a more stable future for myself and my family.

Then, in December 2025, everything changed.

My bank account was hacked, and all of my savings were taken.

Years of hard work disappeared in an instant.

I was back to zero.

But I couldn't simply stop. I am the breadwinner of my family. I still have two brothers, and I live with and help support my grandparents. My income is what our household depends on for food, rent, bills, and my brothers' education.

With my savings gone, I had no choice but to borrow money just to survive.

I took loans to pay bills, buy food, pay rent, and continue supporting my family. What I hoped would be a temporary solution became a cycle of debt.

Eight months have passed, and the interest continues to grow. My salary is no longer enough to cover our daily needs and the debts I have accumulated. I work, but I cannot save. Every month, I feel like I am falling further behind.

Then I found out that I am four months pregnant.

I should be looking forward to becoming a mother. Instead, I am overwhelmed by fear and anxiety about how I will provide for my baby while already struggling financially and supporting my family.

The pressure has severely affected my mental health. I have been diagnosed with major depressive disorder, and I have reached a point where I have struggled with thoughts of not wanting to live anymore.

But then I think about my child.

I do not want my child to suffer the same situation I experienced growing up.

I know what it feels like to grow up feeling alone. I know what it feels like to wonder why you don't have the family support you need. I know the pain and trauma that can follow you into adulthood.

I don't want my child to carry that same pain.

I need to live.

I need to be here for my baby. I need to become the mother I always wished I had. I want my child to grow up knowing that they are loved, protected, and never alone.

I also want to continue caring for my grandparents and supporting my brothers. I want to recover from this depression, get back on my feet, and eventually pursue my dream of working abroad as a pharmacist.

That is why I am humbly asking for help.

The funds raised will help me:

Pay down my loans and the growing interest

Cover food, rent, utilities, and other essential household expenses

Continue supporting my brothers' education

Prepare for my baby's medical and basic needs

Seek the mental-health care and support I need

Rebuild financial stability and eventually pursue my career abroad

I have always tried to be the strong one. I have worked, studied, provided, and fought my way through every difficult chapter of my life.

But right now, I need help.

I am not asking for a perfect life. I am asking for a chance to rebuild. A chance to recover. A chance to become a mother. A chance to give my child the childhood I never had.

I have spent my whole life fighting to survive. Now I am asking for help so I can keep living—not only for myself, but for the little life growing inside me.

If you are able to donate, no amount is too small. If you cannot donate, sharing my story may help it reach someone who can.

Thank you for reading my story, for believing in me, and for helping me find a way forward.

Please help me live. Please help me give my child a better beginning than the one I had.

With all my gratitude,

Ira Gwen Zara

rph.iragwenzara@gmail.com