Maria’s wish for final visit home
A GREYSTONES woman who is terminally ill faces huge logistical and financial obstacles to return to her native Philippines for one last visit and to see her mother a final time.
Maria Elena Hermita (52) was diagnosed in November with stage four colon cancer. Doctors have now told her and her family that she may only have one or two months left to live.
Maria has lived in Ireland for around 20 years and is an Irish citizen. At this moment, due to Covid-19 restrictions, it is proving difficult to get dual citizenship in order to enter the Philippines.
Maria’s son Jurdy said that if she is permitted to travel, it will not be possible for her to do so in economy class. The journey is usually 18 hours and could extend to over 50 hours with the introduction of transfers and layovers.
The family is appealing for help with fundraising, and also awareness of and help with the bureaucratic matters preventing them from travelling.
THE Hermita family is appealing for help for terminally ill Greystones woman Maria Elena Hermita to make it home to the Philippines one last time.
Maria is 52 years old and she was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer last November. Her condition has deteriorated and the cancer has spread to her liver and lungs.
She was undergoing chemotherapy, but has now stopped since she was told that it is no longer working. The doctor has given the family the sad news that Maria has roughly one or two months left.
Her son Jurdy Rave Hermita, who works at Cairnhill nursing home in Bray, has set up a gofundme account as a last resort.
Maria’s children Jurdy and Jackie and her husband Miguel share her goal for one final visit home, but they face tremendous obstacles in achieving that goal.
While the fundraising would cover the expense of travel, they are experiencing great difficulty in getting dual citizenship, and there is some doubt about whether Maria would be strong enough to travel.
Maria’s only wish is go home to the Philippines one last time so that she can say goodbye to the rest of her family but due to the current situation it is impossible for her to do so.
‘She has lived in Ireland since roughly around 2000,’ said Jurdy, who came in 2003. They have moved around a little and currently reside in the centre of Greystones, where they have been for around two years. The family shares a home with a couple of other people who also work at Cairnhill.
‘Originally when she was diagnosed in November, she really wanted to go home and see my grandmother and the rest of the family,’ said Jurdy.
He explained that his grandmother is bedridden also in the Phillipines, following hip surgery.
‘Mom wanted to go home and tell her in person about the condition,’ said Jurdy. That became impossible, and Maria had to break the news over the phone.
‘Now the chance of going home are extra slim,’ said Jurdy. ‘We had talked to the consulate here. They think that it’s not possible, because of coronavirus.’
They are not sure if Maria would be able for the journey, and as an Irish citizen, she would currently not be permitted to enter her native country.
‘It’s a long flight anyway, and at the moment it’s not 18 hours, it’s up to 40 or 50 because of transfers and layovers. She wouldn’t be able to travel by economy as she would have to lie down.’
Jurdy said that his mom has come to terms with what the future holds. But she and the family have a goal of her visiting home one more time, with some significant obstacles in the way of achieving that goal.
Jurdy is currently the only member of the household who is working. Maria suffered a back injury in an accident some four or five years ago. Miguel hasn’t worked since Maria’s diagnosis, as he has been her full-time carer.
Jurdy is a carer at the nursing home, and also studies computer science.
‘ We’re not sure anymore if it will be possible for her to go home. There are a lot of obstacles in the way,’ said Jurdy.
As they only hold Irish passports, they would need to get dual citizenship and applications are backed up, and not being prioritised, given the global crisis. ‘ We’ve been told we need to apply in London,’ said Jurdy, who said they are quite simply running out of time.
‘If it does happen, maybe it will be too late already,’ he said.
Jurdy said that their boss in the nursing home has been extremely supportive and is trying to help to get information about how matters can be expedited.
‘My mom’s wish is to be able to go home and say goodbye one last time,’ said Jurdy.
He said that he has two uncles, one in America and one in the Philippines, both of whom are trying to get visas to travel to Ireland to see their sister. ‘Apparently the Irish embassy is not releasing visas,’ said Jurdy.
He said that starting the fundraising campaign was a last resort to try to cover the cost of travel and create awareness of their situation.
‘My mom and dad didn’t really want to do it,’ said Jurdy. ‘After a while dad told me to give it a try.’
The Go Fund Me campaign has currently received more than €5,000 of its €20,000 target.
To make a donation, go to gofundme.ie, and find ‘Maria Elena Hermita Stage 4 colon cancer’.