My Mom's battle against Leukemia

Update:

I am saddened and loss for words, but my mom's battle against Leukemia is over. She is with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ now. I appreciate everyone's support. Thank You!

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Dear friends, family, and compassionate people around the world. I come to you with a plea for support and prayers. I humbly asked for your support through this GoFundMe page campaign, as every contribution can make a huge difference in helping us get through the financial burden of this battle.

In March 2023, my Mom (Helen Engo) is diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), a progressive type of blood cancer. I was devastated by the news, but I did not realized how severe this Leukemia is until I did my research and spoke to several doctors in the Phillipines. I did my research on how to go about in figuring this thing out, and I concluded that, here in the U.S. is the best fighting chance she got. Her immigrant visa was submitted since June 2020, but COVID hit and the application process went on-hold. She now got accepted and got an interview at the U.S. Embassy on August 17th. The interview should have happened May 2023, but got delayed, again.... because of a "Spotum Test".

Long Story short, every 2 weeks, since March 2023, she go for a blood test to monitor her hemoglobin and blood counts, and the days go by and it is not looking good. She already had to forego (2) blood transfusions and this latest one, according to the doctor, looks like the body is starting to reject the blood and might not reach until August and suggested to start the chemotherapy right away, even for a few sessions, until she get to the U.S.

Unfortunately, in the Philippines, everything has to be paid in cash, and I can feel the toll on our financials already. The agressive chemoteraphy would cost roughly 1 million pesos ($20,000~) for only 1 session and the chemoteraphy tablet (less lethal and adviced by the doctor) would only cost P200,000 ($4,000~) for 1 session and both option will have 7 sessions total. 7 million ($140,000) vs 1.4 million ($27,000). The only help we have in the Phillipines is the 20% senior discount (I don't even know if that covers chemoteraphy and it is hard to get goverment support also) I know money shouldn't be an option when it comes to family, but this is too much for me to handle and my purpose right now, is to only make sure my mom survives in the Philippines until she gets here in the U.S. and sign her up on clinical trials as I am reading some good feedback about the drug and clinical studies about "revumenib". Everything here in the U.S is so advanced, and I can feel that it is the right path for us.

I've been here, by myself, in the U.S. for over 17yrs and mom has been in the Philippines ever since. My wife and 2 kids just got here in the U.S 2yrs ago and my mom should have been too, but the parent applicants are on-pause. My dad left us when I was 6yrs old and it's just my mom and myself. She supported me, even though we have nothing, did everything so we can survive, and this is the time for me to step-up during this difficult time. I want to spend more time with my mom and I am setting my pride and ego aside and asking for your help.

On behalf of my mother and our entire family, I express heartfelt gratitude for your consideration and support. Please donate what you can and share this campaign, reaching out to others and raising awareness.

I sincerely THANK YOU for your kindness, understanding and prayers.

- Mark Davis

Update 6/28/2023:

My mom just finished her 3rd Blood Transfusion yesterday and everything went well. The doctor is still urging us to do the chemo, but I am still, in good faith and prayers, that my mom will be here in the US and do the chemo here. As I told the Dr. if she undergoes the treatment in the Philippines, my mom will not be able to travel anymore to the US, until she gets better. Currently, we are trying a lot of herbal medicines (I ordered 20+ varieties for her to test), just to increase her hemoglobins, cleanse out the system and maybe heal some of her underlying (other) conditions.