March 10, 2026
Walking again, with Tzu Chi’s help
By Harold Llorca
How can compassion restore hope when illness takes away one’s dreams?
It was a dawn of darkness in the life of 22-year-old Don Mark Jhoy Pereira, an incoming second-year college student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology at Binangonan Catholic College in Binangonan, Rizal. Once, he dreamed of wearing his uniform with pride. But life took an unexpected turn when something as simple as wearing slippers became a struggle.
In August 2022, Don began experiencing weakness and numbness in his legs, eventually losing the ability to walk. After a year of consultations and tests, he was diagnosed at the Philippine Orthopedic Center with spinal meningioma—a benign tumor in the membrane surrounding the spinal cord and brain. Within three months, the weakness in his legs worsened. What began as discomfort became devastating, forcing him to depend on a walker and wheelchair. He became partially paralyzed from the waist down. Doctors later confirmed that he required urgent surgery and a costly spinal implant.
As his condition progressed, Don had no choice but to stop studying. The once-active student found himself at home, reliant on others for mobility.
“I was really stressed. I felt left out and helpless,” he said. The illness weighed heavily on him, dimming his hopes of achieving his dreams.
Yet in the midst of despair, his family worked tirelessly to seek financial assistance from various government agencies. For the operation, they needed P300,000—an overwhelming sum for his father, a tricycle driver, and his mother, who earned only P 18,000 per month as a domestic helper in Saudi Arabia.
Determined to find help, and after more than a year of searching, they finally secured the needed funds through the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Office of the President. For his implant, supplier Raynham Medical Equipment Trading referred Don to the Buddhist Tzu Chi Campus in Sta. Mesa, Manila.
His grandfather, 71-year-old Francisco Pereira, said that Don’s surgery had been delayed due to the difficulty of raising the necessary funds. However, with the swift assistance and financial support provided by the Tzu Chi Foundation, the long-awaited operation was about to become reality.
True to their word, Tzu Chi volunteers visited Don’s home within weeks, bringing with them the seeds of compassion.
“They simply told us to wait about two weeks because they would visit us at home. And it truly happened—they came and saw the condition of my grandson, that he really could not walk,” Francisco recalled.
Weeks later, when the guarantee letters arrived and the necessary funds were secured, Don and his family were overwhelmed with relief.
On August 20, 2024, Don underwent a successful surgery at the Philippine Orthopedic Center to remove his tumor and have a spinal implant placed. After a few physical therapy sessions, he was discharged on September 13 and continues to recover at home. Two years since his immobility, he is slowly regaining his ability to walk.
“Thank you so much to Tzu Chi Foundation volunteers, staff, and donors for your life-saving assistance. Because of your help, I am able to return to my normal life. I’m so happy—because of Tzu Chi’s great love, it helped me get back on my feet, restored my hope, and brought light back into my life,” he said.
His grandfather added, “We are deeply grateful. I cannot say enough about how wonderful the Tzu Chi Foundation is. Even though we were strangers to you, you still chose to help us. Your kindness shows that you help people regardless of their status in life. We are so blessed.”
On February 22, Don and his grandfather attended the Year End Blessing—a gathering that fosters gratitude for the past year’s accomplishments, reflects on humanitarian efforts, and offers collective prayers for global peace. For Don, it was his first time attending the gathering, and the experience left a meaningful impression.
“I was very happy to attend the Year End Blessing. Even though it was my first time, I did not feel out of place at all. Everyone was very accommodating,” he said.
Francisco also expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome they received from the Tzu Chi Foundation. Moved by the compassion shown to his family, he hopes the Foundation will continue its mission of helping many more people in the years to come.
Now, Don has returned to school to pursue the dreams that were once interrupted. The first light of dawn is breaking through the long darkness. Hope has slowly returned to Don’s life—not only with strengthened legs, but with renewed purpose.
Through the collective generosity and sincere care of the Tzu Chi Foundation, a young man now walks toward a future once thought uncertain. And in every step that Don takes, the light of compassion continues to shine forward—guiding not only his path, but inspiring others to believe that hope can always rise again.
Tzu Chi volunteer Julie Collado (first from right) poses for a photo with Don and his family.
Tzu Chi volunteers visited Don Mark Jhoy Pereira at his home to personally assess his inability to walk due to spinal meningioma.
After securing the funds and guarantee letters, Don underwent a successful surgery at the Philippine Orthopedic Center on August 20, 2024.
Don successfully underwent surgery to remove a spinal tumor, followed by the placement of a spinal implant to stabilize his condition.
After two years of immobility, Don is gradually regaining his ability to walk, now taking careful steps with the support of a walker as he continues his recovery.
Don is sincerely grateful to the Tzu Chi Foundation for bringing hope back into his life. Because of the foundation’s help, he is now slowly returning to a normal life and pursuing dreams that were once put on hold.
Don’s grandfather, Francisco, expressed deep joy and gratitude for the foundation’s compassion. Because of their great love and support, his grandson can now return to his dreams and slowly resume a normal life.
After receiving the “Spreading the Seed of Love” pamphlet from Tzu Chi volunteers, Don reflected on how he once took simple blessings, like walking and eating nutritious food for granted. Now he cherishes his health deeply, embracing the lesson that prevention is truly better than cure.
Francisco and Don attend Tzu Chi Foundation’s Year End Blessing, expressing gratitude for the warm welcome and support they received from the foundation.
The celebration of the Year End Blessing of the foundation is a gathering to express gratitude, reflect on humanitarian efforts, and pray for global peace.