Melda and Fidel are my good friends. Melda was sick in the Philippines. She presented with Hemoptysis (coughing blood up from her lungs) and was intubated in the ICU because she couldn't breathe and hard heart trouble. She has since stabilised and is clear of Covid. She is beginning to recover. However, my friend now has a hospital bill for over 70,000 PHP (£1000) [EDIT: Melda sadly passed away, God rest her soul. We need to add further medical costs and the funeral, so I updated the amount to 105,000 PHP or £1500] in a community where the average wage is just $6 a day. Fidel, her husband has sold everything he can sell and finally contacted me to ask for help. He sold his pigs. I sent what I could but it isn't enough.

Fidel is one of the kindest, most proud, most hard working people I know and he and his wife welcomed me when I stayed in their neighbourhood for a year. Melda, like her husband Fidel is very kind and loving. They got to church every week and as an example of their kindness, I once lost my wallet and had no money. Fidel was standing next to me when it happened and he, without hesitation offered me all he had to help me. I have never seen such charity from someone with so little to offer. Now it's time for this family to receive some help. I want to make sure that Melda gets the care and treatment she deserves and makes a full recovery.

When you are a backpacker, some people around the World help you when you're a complete stranger to them. They smile, translate, help you to find accommodation and even feed you if you need it. All without asking for anything.

This Christmas we get a chance to give back.

Let's not give up hope. If 500 of us gave even just £2 each, we could pay for Melda's medical bills and get her back home to her children. We could help set Fidel on his way to getting back to work to be able to buy back the things he had to sell. His pigs, is livelihood and all he has left is his tricycle to earn money. We can stop this family suffering even more hurt this Christmas.

I know there are so many people who need help and I am working as fast as I can to make a big project to help thousands of people but, this is an emergency. And it's not someone anonymous, it's not a scam. It's my friend.

The donations will pay for the hospital that is treating Melda in the ICU. If there is any money left over, it will be spent on helping any other people in their neighbourhood who are hungry or sick this Christmas.

If you want to check out that I'm a real person and not fake, Google me: 'Lloyd Hardy'. you'll find me on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and can email me to prove I am who I say I am at lloyd@lloydhardy.com.

I used to enjoy gift giving at Christmas from awesome people who sent gifts from the UK and Ireland, this time.. in a world of Covid, we just need money for medical bills this Christmas. Thank you so much for caring.

UPDATE: Melda is out of the ICU! Yay! I hope that she will make a speedy recovery and then all we have to worry about are medical bills and not losing her.. Lots of Love and Prayers, Melda!

Get well soon! We will be working on fundraising for you :)

Please share.

UPDATE: Sadly, Melda passed away early this morning, leaving behind her 3 children and loving husband Fidel. We still need to pay medical bills so please help with anything you can - even just sharing.. that is worth everything if you can't afford to donate money. We love you Melda <3<3<3

UPDATE 25/12/20: I updated the total to include the Funeral costs to £1500 :(