In a recent trip to Pizza Hut, the little one sat at the head of the table. Sign of things to come? Well, sa bahay naman talaga, siya ang boss.

I first came across baby Hannah’s story through a link that Joel sent me. This link was actually Hannah’s multiply site – created by her parents and the entries are mostly written by Hannah’s father, Carlo. It tells the story of how a baby, diagnosed with CONGENITAL CENTRAL HYPOVENTILATION SYNDROME (CCHS), and her parents manage to keep their faith and family strong amid the hardships that they face every single day.

Through this site, I learned that Hannah’s condition — which afflicts only 1 in 1M live births — prevents her from breathing properly when she is awake and that she can’t breathe at all when she is asleep. To keep her breathing, her doctors had to cut a hole on her throat, put in a tracheostomy tube and attach it to a respirator. Her parents, Carlo and Joan, have quit their respective jobs so they can attend to Hannah full time.

Right now, Hannah is hooked to a respirator which her parents are renting. The rent is quite expensive and is taking its toll on them financially.Their long-term solution is, of course, to buy Hannah’s own portable ventilator which she can use for many years ahead.

As Carlo writes in their multiply site, “This portable ventilator will also allow us to bring Hannah outside the confines of our house: to the park maybe, to church, or even to a nearby fastfood restaurant. It does pain us to know that we’re not able to have Hannah see the same sights, hear the same sounds, and experience the same things as other babies of her age do. That’s why Joan and and I are again appealing to your generous hearts.” Hence, the fundraising.

The family is selling rosary bracelets and five-decade rosaries to help raise funds to buy Hannah’s portable ventilator. Carlo explains, “Joan and I decided on the rosaries as our mission and devotion to spread the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mama Mary to everyone. The rosaries are also our own way of repaying your generosity and kindness to our family. Because we have faith that we can bring so many people closer to God and bring so much blessings into their lives through these rosaries.”

The rosaries are beautiful and have ordered 11 of these myself. Because I know that these rosaries are products of love, I will use these rosaries as Christmas gifts for those dearest to my heart. I hope you too can do your part in helping Carlo and Joan raise the funds they need to keep their beautiful Hannah living and breathing.

Hannah at 15 months

Guys, please help me spread the word and help Hannah’s parents buy the mobile ventilator that Hannah needs. To order rosaries, just visit Hannah’s online store here. If you want to know more about Hannah’s story, click here.

Thanks to Joan and Carlo for letting me share their story of hope, faith and love.

Let me know that You hear me
Let me know Your touch
Let me know that You love me
Let that be enough.

– Switchfoot

Anton and his wall art. Buti na lang washable yung crayons nya.

…my world has twice as many stars in the sky.

Because you live, I live.