A Mother’s Heart for a Child’s Heart - Mikael Jake Dadia

written by mom Rosemarie

A Mother’s Fight for Her Child’s Heart

An inspiring journey through love, fear, and unbreakable hope

When a mother learns that her child’s heart is fragile, the world seems to stop. Every breath becomes precious. Every decision carries weight. This is the story of one mother’s journey—her courage, her tears, and her relentless fight to secure life-saving heart surgery for her young child, mj, diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot, a complex congenital heart defect.

The Day Everything Changed

Their journey began in 2024, during what was meant to be a routine pediatric check-up. MJ was only two years old when the pediatrician heard something unusual—a heart murmur. That single sound changed everything.

“Sa isang regular na pagpapatingin, napansin ng pedyatrisyan niya ang hindi karaniwang tunog ng puso… ang echocardiogram ay nagpatunay na mayroon siyang congenital heart defect.”

The confirmation came swiftly, but the weight of it lingered. A diagnosis involving multiple heart abnormalities meant surgery was inevitable—complex, delicate, and costly.

Fear, Faith, and a Mother’s Resolve

The initial response was pure fear.

“Una akong nalamig at natakot—umiyak ako habang ipinapaliwanag ng doktor ang kalagayan.”

She and her husband held each other tightly, trying to absorb medical terms they had never imagined would define their lives. Yet, even in that moment of shock, one instinct rose above all else: do everything possible to save their child.

The Hidden Cost of a Sick Heart

Beyond the medical fear came another heavy burden—finances. Repeated consultations, diagnostic tests, and specialist visits began to strain the family.

“Sa pananalapi, naranasan namin ang dagdag na mga bayarin… Sa emosyon, palagi kaming nababagabag.”

Fundraising became a necessity, not a choice. Asking for help was humbling. Each shared post, each explained diagnosis, reopened emotional wounds. There were days of exhaustion, nights filled with worry, and moments when hope felt dangerously thin.

Yet, something beautiful emerged alongside the struggle.

Community, Compassion, and Collective Strength

Family members stepped in—helping with childcare, household tasks, and emotional support. Friends shared their story. Strangers donated. Most importantly, she found strength in a community that truly understood.

“Umasa kami sa aming suportang sistema… at sa komunidad ng Let It ECHO, kung saan nakilala namin ang ibang mga magulang na eksaktong naiintindihan ang aming nararanasan.”

In shared stories and quiet conversations, she found reassurance: they were not alone.

Making the Surgery Possible

After six months of careful monitoring, doctors confirmed what the family had feared and prepared for—mj needed heart surgery.

This was where government assistance and private institutions played a crucial role. Public health programs helped shoulder part of the medical cost, while private hospitals, doctors, and charitable organizations worked together to make the surgery feasible. The process required paperwork, patience, and persistence—but every approved request felt like a door opening.

“Sama-sama kaming nagtulungan ng pangkat ng ospital para ayusin ang pamamaraan… at ihanda ang aming tahanan para sa kanyang paggaling.”

It was never just one institution—it was a network of support, stitched together by compassion.

Small Victories, Big Hope

Learning about her child’s condition empowered her. Understanding the medical journey gave her a sense of control in a situation that often felt overwhelming.

“Ang mga maliit na tagumpay, tulad ng pag-abot niya sa mga yugto ng pag-unlad, ang nagpapanatili sa amin ng lakas ng loob.”

Each milestone—each smile, each step forward—became proof that the fight was worth it.

A Message to Other Families

To parents just beginning their own CHD journey, her words are gentle but powerful:

“Hawakan ninyo ito ng isang araw sa isang pagkakataon… Humanap ng pangkat ng mga doktor na pinagkakatiwalaan ninyo… at tandaan na alagaan din ninyo ang sarili ninyo.”

Her story is not just about surgery or survival. It is about a mother’s love, strong enough to face fear, humble enough to ask for help, and brave enough to keep going.

A Heart Stronger Than Fear

Today, MJ’s journey continues—one filled with hope, healing, and gratitude. This mother’s story reminds us that while congenital heart disease tests the body, it also reveals the incredible strength of the human heart.

And sometimes, the strongest hearts belong not to those who are healed—but to the mothers who never stop fighting for them. 💙