‘We cannot do this alone’: 21-year-old Kalinga student seeks help for urgent cancer surgery

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — At 21, Jemimah Kate Sagmayao should be busy attending classes, planning her future and enjoying her college years.

Instead, she is now facing cancer and appealing for financial assistance to continue her treatment and undergo an urgent surgery.

Jemimah, a third-year student of Kalinga State University (KSU) from Barangay Agbannawag, Tabuk City, had to temporarily stop her studies this semester after a mass began growing on the right side of her face.

In an interview with Guru Press Cordillera, Jemimah said her illness began suddenly in July, leading to several medical consultations before she was eventually diagnosed with cancer.

“Na-diagnosed nak ti sinus disease with a mass growing on the right side of my face. Dinmakkel po diay bukol sunga nagpakonsulta kami kadagiti doctors. After many consultations, one doctor advised that I require an immediate surgery to give me the best possible chance to recover. Di kalman, nirumwar diay resulta ti biopsy ko ket na-confirm nga adda cancer ko,” she said.

‘We cannot do this alone’

While Jemimah remains determined to fight the disease, her family is struggling to shoulder the cost of her treatment.

The family traveled to Manila this week for her scheduled procedure, hoping she could finally undergo the surgery she urgently needs. However, the procedure did not push through after they failed to raise enough funds to cover the medical expenses.

The cost of the operation, hospital stay and other medical requirements has become a heavy burden for the family, whose main source of income is farming.

Jemimah said the expenses for her treatment could reach hundreds of thousands to more than ₱1 million, depending on the medical and hospital costs.

Her father is a farmer, while her mother is a housewife. Jemimah is the eldest of six siblings.

Despite their financial difficulties, she said her family continues to look for ways to sustain her treatment.

“We cannot do this alone, and any support you can extend will make a difference,” she appealed.

She also described the financial challenge her family is facing as they try to secure the medical care she needs.

“While we are doing everything within our power to fight this, we have hit a massive obstacle. The cost of the procedure, combined with the necessary hospital stays and specialized medical care, comes to an overwhelming total that far exceeds what our family can manage on our own,” she added.

Every peso counts

Jemimah is appealing to individuals and organizations who may be able to extend financial assistance, saying even a small contribution could help bring her closer to undergoing the operation.

“If you are in a position to donate, no matter how small the amount, every single peso counts and brings us one step closer to making this operation happen,” she said.

For those who cannot provide financial assistance, she is also asking the public to share her story with friends, organizations and other groups that may be in a position to help.

She likewise appealed for prayers as she continues to face the difficult situation.

Despite the uncertainty, Jemimah remains grateful to those who have already reached out, sent messages of encouragement and prayed for her.

Those who wish to extend financial assistance may send donations through:

GCash: 09702831222Account Name: Jemimah Kate Sagmayao

For now, Jemimah and her family continue to face the difficult battle together. As they struggle to meet the rising cost of treatment, the young student is hoping that the kindness of others can help ease a burden that her family can no longer carry alone.