January 15, 2021 The first time I heard there was something wrong with my child's heart, my mind went blank. I cannot seem to move on. It was the scariest thing I have ever heard in my life. I began researching and reading everything I see online - diagnosis, prognosis, survival rates, treatment options, second opinions, hospitalizations, surgeries, medications, specialists, outcomes, long-term care. It was overwhelming and filled me with several emotions. Because the surgeon

It's my 3rd child (Praise God!). I have compiled this list and improved it over time. I think I quite get what are needed for the hospital bag. I am lucky to have a husband who likes being prepared. He keeps all our essentials in a medium-sized travel bag. Everything in the bag includes essentials for him, me, and the baby. I have given birth during this pandemic and so there are extra precautions needed to be taken and more stuff to bring. I delivered my baby via caesarian s

This is the first time that we have an official joint activity of all Heart Groups in the Philippines - Heartwarrior Philippines, Let It Echo, Jaden&Friends, and Busilak. This is, however, not the first time that we have worked together as a team. In fact, we are like bestfriends. We may not have seen each other in person yet, our hearts are close. The members of each group as the same too. We are joined by the same common mission and vision. Indeed, it makes the heart smile

One of the things we miss doing because of the pandemic is our Echoing activity. We miss physically meeting the parents who became family to us. So what happens in an echoing? Echoing is an activity that we try to do at least twice a year. We invite all parents and their kids who had surgeries and those who are still seeking surgery. This is a venue for each family to bond and talk about their journey. For parents who are still seeking surgery for their kids, they get to see

It was in 2017 when talks between Gift of Life International (GOLI), Rotary Club of Cebu (RCC), and Vicente Sotto Medical Center (VSMMC) started. The plan is to start a pediatric cardiac program that is sustainable. The vision is to have a heart center in Cebu so that Visayas and Mindanao patients do not need to travel to Manila to get their hearts fixed. It is truly exciting! To make this come true, Gift of Life will mobilize a Visiting Training Team (VTT) of doctors and oth