Published: January 2, 2026
Monrovia — In a modest home in Johnsonville, a 49-year-old mother of three is fighting a losing battle against advanced breast cancer, her survival now hinging on a modest sum she cannot afford.
Marvelyne T. Toe lies in critical condition, wracked by pain and weakened by severe blood loss from a cancerous wound that has nearly destroyed her right breast. Doctors have told her family that treatment cannot begin until a required deposit of just over US$1,000 is paid, an amount far beyond their reach.
From her sickbed, Madam Toe is appealing to the Liberian government, humanitarian organizations, and compassionate individuals at home and abroad for urgent assistance.
“Y’all help to save my life,” she pleaded through tears during an interview with The Liberian Investigator on Dec. 31, 2025.
A Silent Illness, Years Without Help
Madam Toe said her ordeal began quietly in 2019 with what appeared to be a minor sore. Lacking financial means and sustained family support, she delayed medical care as the condition worsened year after year.
“Last week, the doctors told me it is cancer,” she said. “But they said I must deposit US$1,000 before they can start treatment. I don’t have it. I don’t have anyone to help me.”
A single mother, she has struggled to provide for her children while enduring constant pain. Two of her daughters—Grace, 24, and Mercy, 18—recently completed high school. Her youngest child, Favor, 13, is in the 10th grade. Their father, Madam Toe said, is unemployed.
“I don’t sleep at night or in the day,” she said quietly. “I am weak now. I cannot even stand.”
Daily Pain and Dangerous Blood Loss
During the interview, the reporter observed extensive open wounds, with persistent bleeding and discharge, causing severe discomfort and dehydration. Madam Toe said her children often place a bucket beneath the wound to manage the blood loss.
Eating, she added, has become nearly impossible. “Even when there is food, the pain does not allow me to eat,” she said.
With no steady income, the family survives largely on charity from neighbors and well-wishers. “We are only living by the grace of God,” she said.
A Daughter’s Plea
Eighteen-year-old Mercy P. Toe described watching her mother’s health deteriorate as emotionally devastating. “Seeing your mother go through this kind of pain breaks you,” she said.
Nights are particularly harrowing, she explained, as coughing spells intensify the bleeding and leave the family sleepless. At times, they cover the wound when taking their mother outside, fearful of public attention.
Despite dreams of pursuing a career in cybersecurity, Mercy said the family’s future is now uncertain. “I don’t know how to move forward when my mother is fighting for her life,” she said. “That is why I am asking the public to help us.”
She renewed the appeal on her mother’s behalf, calling the situation “very critical” and urging swift intervention.
“My education can wait,” Mercy said. “My mother’s life cannot. Please help her. God will bless you.”
For Madam Toe and her children, time is rapidly running out. Without immediate financial support to begin treatment, their appeal remains a race against a disease that does not pause—and a health system that often does not bend for the poor.
Those wishing to provide assistance or obtain further information may contact Mercy P. Toe directly at +231 776 029 810.
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