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*Name has been changed to protect the family’s privacy*

Gehlee’s maritime career began in 2015, and she carried with her the dreams of becoming a Chief Engineer someday. For seven years, she dedicated her life at sea, proving that women can thrive in a profession dominated by men. She did all this while managing a long-distance relationship to her partner who is also a seafarer.

Balancing two seafaring careers with children presented a unique logistical puzzle for the couple. “While technology helped us communicate, it was still challenging due to different time zones,” Gehlee explains. Their contracts often varied in length, with Gehlee’s being shorter, allowing them to alternate childcare responsibilities. When both were at sea, their children stayed with the grandparents. “It was hard to manage,” she recalls, “but this situation made us stronger.”

In 2022, Gehlee made a choice that would define her family’s future. She left her maritime career to become a full-time mom while her husband continued working at sea. “It is a personal choice I made just to have a better opportunity,” she explains. “That opportunity is to be with my children. I know by choosing to prioritize my children could mean sacrificing my career advancement opportunities.” At the time, it seemed like a proactive decision to be more present for her children, but fate would prove this choice to be more crucial than she could have imagined.

In March 2025, their son was diagnosed with autoimmune encephalitis, a rare and serious condition that causes inflammation in the brain. It began with flu-like symptoms, but then something more alarming happened. Gehlee’s son began forgetting things, seeing things that weren’t there, and his whole personality seemed to change. Day by day, Gehlee watched her son’s body and mind deteriorate.

The expensive treatment for this condition brought financial burden to the family. Having lost access to maritime health benefits like AMOSUP Hospital after stepping away from her job, which had seemed manageable before, now became a huge gap as medical bills mounted and the treatment timeline uncertain.

A friend posted about Gehlee’s son’s condition online to raise funds, and the outpouring of support from colleagues, family, and friends was overwhelming. Among those who saw the post was someone from her past—a former senior from her maritime academy days. “It all started from a simple call,” she recalls. “And the next thing I know ISWAN is the one reaching out to us.”

ISWAN provided financial aid through the Seafarers’ Emergency Fund to help cover the cost of the medical bills, but just as importantly, the team also offered consistent emotional and wellbeing support. “You can really tell that they are really sincere on showing compassion and consideration on what we’ve been dealing with,” Gehlee shared.

Thanks to the strength of her family, the generosity of friends, and the compassion of ISWAN, her son began to recover. This progress allowed her husband to return to sea with peace of mind, knowing their son has a good support system.

To other seafaring families facing similar challenges, Gehlee offers powerful advice: “Engage with seafarer associations and support groups for a sense of community. Don’t hesitate to reach out and seek professional help if needed. And lastly, maintain emotional wellbeing.”

Gehlee’s story is a reminder that even the strongest need support—and that behind every seafarer is a network of care, courage, and community.

At ISWAN, we are proud to be part of that network—helping seafarers and their families weather life’s toughest storms.