💗 Jaime's arc — and what comes next
💔 The diagnosis
Five years ago, Jaime Kathryn Monterde was a kid in Cebu, Philippines with a pain in her leg that wouldn't go away. The diagnosis was osteosarcoma — an aggressive bone cancer. By the time doctors confirmed it, the tumor had consumed enough of her leg that the only way to save her life was to take the leg.
The amputation happened on an emergency schedule. For a family already stretched thin, the question after surgery was never "what kind of prosthetic?" — it was "how do we survive this at all?" Cancer care in the Philippines is not free. Rehabilitation isn't covered. A prosthetic leg sized and fitted for a growing kid runs thousands of dollars, and has to be refitted every few years.
Today, she is a cancer survivor, and she credits 1Up LifeBridge for not only saving her life but also helping her get back on her feet. — from the 1Up LifeBridge case write-up on gamesforlove.org
✨ The turning point
This is the moment 1Up LifeBridge and Helping Hands Ministry (Philippines) stepped in. Together, the two organizations sourced Jaime's prosthetic, coordinated with her surgical team, and paid for the fitting, the fabrication, and the months of physical therapy it takes to turn a piece of hardware into a working leg.
When the prosthesis finally arrived, the case worker's note was simple: "Jaime was overwhelmed with gratitude and joy. Her eyes filled with tears of happiness and laughter." She stood up. She took her first steps. Then she started running.
I can't believe how far I've come. — Jaime Kathryn Monterde
🏅 Today
Five years later, Jaime is not just walking — she's competing. She trains through the University of Cebu Sports Development Office, and in November 2024, she traveled to Manila for the Philippine National Para Games — and came home with three gold medals.
Nathan Blair, founder of Games For Love, put it this way: "Jaime's journey embodies everything we aim to achieve at Games For Love." A kid who was told she might not survive is now a 3-time national gold medalist eyeing Paralympic qualification.
🔄 What your gift does next
Jaime's prosthetic is paid for. Her surgery is done. What your gift does now is fund the NEXT kid like her — the next child in the 1Up LifeBridge queue who's waking up from amputation surgery in a Philippine hospital with a family that can't afford a prosthetic. Jaime's arc is the proof. Your gift is what makes the next arc possible.
A portion also funds Jaime's continued rehab + paralympic training, because the 1Up LifeBridge commitment doesn't end at the prosthetic — it continues through every refitting, every physical therapist, every competition, all the way to the Paralympics if that's where she decides to take it.
Helping Hands Ministry has partnered with 1Up LifeBridge since Jaime's first prosthetic. Every dollar you give in Jaime's name unlocks a matching dollar for the next kid in the queue — same country, same program, same kind of life-changing care.
The 2× match is capped at $1,500 for the next 1Up LifeBridge child. Close the gap today and every dollar keeps its weight through the next fitting.
Where Your Gift Goes (for the NEXT 1Up kid)
| Item | Cost | Qty | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prosthetic socket + fitting | $2,400 | 1 | $2,400 |
| Surgical consultation + pre-op workup | $950 | 1 | $950 |
| Post-op physical therapy (8 weeks) | $680 | 1 | $680 |
| Family housing during rehab | $320 | 1 | $320 |
