Growing up, my grandma and mom instilled in my sister and me the importance of helping others in any way we could. I learned that even the smallest acts of kindness can profoundly impact someone’s life, and I’ve carried that passion with me every day.

I was also surrounded by strong women in my life who worked in the medical field, and their stories of helping others inspired me to pursue nursing. Additionally, when my mom was diagnosed with Stage 3 ovarian cancer in 2017, I witnessed firsthand the incredible support and compassion her nurses provided throughout her journey. This experience solidified my desire to become a nurse and continue that tradition of care and kindness.

After my mom became cancer-free, she felt a strong desire to give back. During our trip to the Philippines in 2018, she proposed the idea of providing meals for an entire elementary school and pediatric cancer patients. This experience ignited our passion for being a resource for these communities, and my mom discovered a newfound purpose in sharing her journey to inspire and help others.

Since then, she has dedicated herself to using her experiences to support those who lack access to the same resources we have. Now, every year, we return to the Philippines to continue our mission of feeding an elementary school and pediatric cancer patients, reinforcing our commitment to making a difference in their lives.