10 kids cured of heart illness

Life was not easy for Aaliyah Faith Perpetua, a 1-year old baby girl from barangay Casuntingan, Mandaue City, who was diagnosed with patent ductus arteriosus, a congenital heart disorder, before her first birthday.

Aaliyah’s illness was discovered after her mother brought her to the doctor because her growth was not as fast as her two older siblings and her heartbeat was fast.

After undergoing tests and despite taking antibiotics, Aaliyah’s condition worsened to pneumonia and she had to nebulize four times a day.

Her pediatric pulmonologist told her parents that she needed an open-heart surgery to survive.

But her parents had no money for her operation as her father, a 26-year-old high school, is the only provider in the family who earns P300 per day as messenger.

Fortunately for Aaliyah, she was one of the 10 children suffering from congenital heart defects who were successfully operated on at Perpetual Succour Hospital and Cebu Doctors’ Hospital under the Gift of Life project of the Rotary Club of Cebu and the Rotary Club of Cebu West.

Aaliyah and the nine other children from Cebu and the Visayas are now free from congenital heart disorders.

The Gift of Life project began with The Gift of Life University chorale concert and benefit gala, a fund-raiser held on Dec. 6, 2010.

The rotary clubs are once again organizing the event to raise funds for the 14 children with congenital heart defects who are scheduled for operations in the next few months.

In cooperation with Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, this year’s concert will feature performances by Cebu Normal University Choral, University of San Carlos Choristers, University of Southern Philippine Foundation Chorale and University of the Visayas Chorale in a wide repertoire of songs, including American standards, Asian folk songs and contemporary pop hits.

The concert will be held on Nov. 24 at the Pacific Grand Ballroom of Waterfront hotel. Cocktails begin at 6 p.m., the gala dinner is at 7 p.m. and the concert follows.

For donations and ticket inquiries, call the Rotary Club of Cebu at 4125612 or 0927396-855 or e-mail them at [email protected].