"SHEn CAN" Please help Shen beat CANcer.

Hi, my name is Beda and I am fundraising for my very close friend Shenandoah Tejada-Kwek, who is currently fighting to beat Cancer for the 2nd time. YES, FOR THE 2ND TIME. GoFundMe is not available in the Philippines hence I am doing this to reach out for help from whoever can from all over the world. Unlike other countries, like Australia, New Zealand, etc., it cost hunderds of thousands of dollars to get Chemo treatment in Philippines. Here is Shen's story she wrote about her cancer journey:

Hi everyone, this is Shenandoah—Shen to many, Mommy to my son, and someone still holding on with everything she has.

My cancer journey began in January 2020, when I was first diagnosed with Neuroendocrine Small Cell Cervical Carcinoma, a rare and aggressive cancer. I went through 18 rounds of chemotherapy, 28 rounds of radiation, and a radical hysterectomy. I also lived with peripheral neuropathy for a year, struggling with numbness and pain in my hands and feet. But through it all, I held on—and by God’s grace, I was declared clear from cancer.

For three beautiful years, I lived with hope and healing.

But in July 2024, my cancer came back—this time in my lungs. It has since progressed to Stage IV, now diagnosed as Neuroendocrine Small Cell Cervical Carcinoma with Lung Metastasis.

These past 7 months have been incredibly hard. My tumor has grown from 3x3x7 cm to 5x5x7 cm. It is now invading my airway, which is why I’ve been experiencing constant, violent coughing, often lasting up to 30 minutes, leaving me vomiting and breathless. The tumor is also starting to block my right aorta, making my situation critical.

Because of this, my treatment plan had to change. I now need weekly high-dose medications and regular Immunotherapy sessions to stop the cancer from progressing. So far, I’ve had 15 rounds of chemotherapy and 2 rounds of Immunotherapy, but I need more. We've managed to lower the cost of the immunotherapy drug to ₱150,000 (Aud $4200) per session, and I need 35 sessions, so this is overwhelming for our family.

On top of this physical battle, I’ve also been diagnosed with Acute Anxiety Disorder. Each hospital visit feels like a nightmare. The fear, the panic, the overwhelming heaviness—it makes everything so much harder. I never truly understood the gravity of mental health until I found myself in its grip. It can feel like a prison, and it often makes the already difficult days even more unbearable.

And yet, I keep going.

Because I have my faith. I’ve had rare moments of peace—like God is gently hugging me, telling me I’m not alone. And I have my two greatest reasons to live—Budj, my rock, and Cross, our sweet, loving 8-year-old son. We still wrap ourselves in our “love sandwich” hugs, laugh over the simplest things, and hold each other through the hardest ones. They remind me every single day why I’m still fighting.

But I can’t do it alone.

If you can help in any way—through donations, prayers, or simply sharing my story—please know how deeply grateful I am. Your support doesn't just fund my treatment—it gives me a chance to live. To keep dancing in the kitchen, laughing with my boys, and waking up to mornings filled with love and light.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Please continue to pray for me.

With love,

Shen