Princess Rosales (left) sits with her mother Charisma Isagre (right), as the family tries whatever they can to ensure she has the proper care she needs.

By Tommy Osborne

Health Care

Prince George family faces desperate situation as health of daughter at risk

Jul 15, 2025 | 5:00 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – One Prince George family that moved here from the Philippines is facing a serious challenge regarding the health of their five year old daughter, Princess Rosales. Princess has cerebral palsy, but in the last two years that she’s lived in Canada, she’s made significant progress thanks to Canada’s extensive health care supports. However, changes to the Federal Government’s foreign worker policies means less workers are allowed in Canada, placing Princess’s family in a precarious situation of potentially having to leave the country.

“When she came, I called the CDC (Child Development Centre) and they welcomed her. She didn’t have the medical cards, but they accepted her, and she has physical therapy, occupational, and speech therapy,” Princess’s mother, Charisma Isagre said.

Princess sitting with her mother, Charisma.

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The progress Princess made in the last two years has been both physical and mental, with Charisma, alongside Princess’s father Gandy Boy Rosales, detailing how much more she’s able to do thanks to Canada’s healthcare system.

“When we came here, she almost didn’t talk, and she wasn’t using much of her hands and her feet, she wanted to just sit. But when she came to the CDC, they have their walk and the occupational therapy. Now her right hand is loosened, before, it was so that it cannot hold anything. And she’s talking right now and smiling, so it helps a lot, she’s more sociable,” Charisma said.

“She is more confident now, communicating with her therapist,” Gandy Boy said.

The possibility of leaving the country is incredibly concerning for the family, as it could have potentially devastating consequences for Princess’s progress and longterm health. In the Philippines, she wouldn’t have access to the wide array of physical and speech therapists she has in Canada, on top of the various specialized learning and mobility equipment.

“If we’re going to go back to the Philippines, Princess’s many medical supports will be gone. It’s going to be especially hard for her,” Gandy Boy said.

“They have doctors, but they’re private, so we need to pay. There is no free medical back home,” Charisma added.

The family is trying everything they can to remain in Canada, despite the changes to the federal policies, which includes but isn’t limited to:

• The humanitarian and compassionate grounds section.
• Labour Market Impact Assessment document, and the associated programs.

“We’re trying anything to stay longer. We’re old and we experienced everything, but for her, here, they treat, children like her normally. It’s normal school, but way back home (the Philippines), the reality is, if you don’t have the money and you have a disabled daughter, you need to stay home,” Charisma said.

As the family reflects on Princess’s progress, there is little they can do but hope the government lets them stay, as her growth has been incredible the last two years and all the parents want is for her continued development and wellbeing.

“When she came, she doesn’t want to see anybody, like, she’s not confident and she don’t trust anyone. And now, if you talk to her, say hi, she smiles and says hi back. Before, it’s not like that,” Charisma said.

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