hannah ysabelle's bassinet

August 1, 2009

For President Cory

Our family would like to thank you, Tita Cory for all that you have given us Filipinos. The gift of your life is truly a deeply moving work of insurmountable faith. You will forever be celebrated in our hearts.

February 9, 2009

It's finally here!

Last January 24, 2009, our family's dream for Hannah finally became a reality! Hannah's very own portable mechanical ventilator found its way into our home and into our hearts. I still can't believe it until now. There's a dreamlike quality to Hannah's new vent which I cannot put into words. Truly, this is a gift from God. + read more

November 24, 2008

HANNAH'SHUNDRED

Hannah's dear friend, Cathy Babao Guballa has done it!

She was able to complete the 5K run at McKinley Hill for Hannah yesterday, November 23. It is truly a victory for Cathy, for Hannah, and for all of you who supported Hannah's Hundred through pledges and prayers.

The 5K that Cathy ran, with all your help and support, was no mean feat. For our family, this is the greatest triumph we've ever been a part of. Our spirits are enlivened and exhilarated knowing that our dream of a portable ventilator for Hannah is now within reach.

Thank you Cathy and thank you all so much! Our hearts will forever be humbled and grateful to all of you.


November 10, 2008

Last Sunday, November 9, I attended baby Sophie's funeral. It was a very sad day for all of us. Although there was a great outpouring of tears and uncontainable emotions, we all knew in our hearts that day that baby Sophie was now running around, rolling on fluffy clouds, and playing with all the little angels in God's kingdom. Just the thought of her new found happiness brings peace to my restlessness.

I'd like to share with you my eulogy for baby Sophie which I gave during her Interment Mass. This was not only a tribute to celebrate baby Sophie's life. But also as a salute and a show of our family's support to her courageous parents, Cris and Aicel.

Thank you so much for taking time to read and reflect. God bless!


Eulogy for baby Sophie

We are all here today, with Cris and Aicel, to value, and to remember the life of one of God’s little angels. We are here because we want to show our love and that all of us here has in some way, been touched by the life and story of a child who knew all about courage, about hope, about selfless love. We are here for we want to say “Thank you Lord” and “Thank you Sophie.”

I first met Sophie early of this year while she was still confined at the Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. I visited her, together with my wife, during the time after she had her first cardiac arrest. I saw her. I saw her crying. I heard her cry even when no voice was coming out from her. I wanted to say so much but words failed me at that time. And when words fail, tears do the talking for us. I guess tears is the language of our souls. They take over when the mind has met its verbal limitations. And the only way to understand the language of tears is to listen with your heart. As I was crying, my heart listened to Sophie’s tears. And although my heart heard some faint cries of pain, of discomfort, what truly resounded was a cry of much hope, of much courage, and of much love. It’s as if she told me, “It’s not so painful as it looks. God’s love for me, through the overwhelming love of my mommy and daddy, takes the pain away. So don’t worry. I’m going to be alright.” I was truly amazed by this show of courage. And why shouldn’t Sophie be brave? When she has God, through Cris and Aicel’s love for her, as the strongest part of her life.

When Sophie passed away, like all of us today, the tears are again doing the talking for us. Our hurting hearts are weeping and no words seem to be adequate. I guess for Cris and Aicel, it seems that the strongest part of who they are has been taken away from them. And in it’s place, is an emptiness that’s truly difficult to contain. That’s why today, Cris and Aicel are on this journey of grief. And we, as their families and friends, journey with them.

To Cris and Aicel, do know that we will walk this journey of grief with you. And today, this journey will also be a journey of faith. A journey that will lead both of you, and all of us here, to the heart of God and say “Thank you Lord” for loving us and Sophie oh so much. And a journey that will also lead us to say “Thank you Sophie” for making God the strongest part of our lives now. Ever since I’ve met Sophie, I have always included her in my heart’s prayer, together with her ate Nikki and my daughter Hannah, for God to completely heal them. And though Sophie has gone, right now, she is indeed completely healed. And at her happiest living eternally with Papa Jesus and Mama Mary.

We will truly miss you Sophie. We will always remember you as the one who taught us about courage, about hope, and about selfless love.

Basta ikaw Sophie, mahal ka namin. Basta Ikaw Lord.


November 5, 2008

Hannah's younger CCHS-sister, Sophia Yzobelle Delgado passed away yesterday, November 4, 2008. We are deeply saddened and are one in prayer with her loving parents Cris and Aicel.

I was trying to make sense of all of this. My mind was wrenched in looking for an answer. I was a complete blank. But then I tried to understand with my heart. And through it, I found the hearts of God, of Sophie, and of her parents. And here is what I came to realize and understand through an account of baby Sophie's story.

Several months ago, baby Sophie had a cardiac arrest. She had no heartbeat for more than an hour and wasn't breathing. She was practically dead. Doctors did not let up in trying to revive and resuscitate her. During this span of time, baby Sophie had a conversation with God. He was already asking her to join Him in heaven. Baby Sophie has already been through so much pain and discomfort due to complications brought about by her CCHS condition, so it was likely that she'd say yes to God to live forever in His Kingdom. Instead, she asked God that she still wants to be with her parents. That she still wants to feel their love and that she, in her own little way, would want to show them how much she loves them. Although baby Sophie knew that when she returns, her physical self will be in much more pain than before, her heart knew that she can take it. So God's heart listened and answered her prayer. She was then miraculously brought back to life! After surviving her cardiac arrest, baby Sophie began to experience seizures because of the damage inflicted to her brain due to the prolonged lack of oxygen. It was a very painful ordeal for her and for her parents. Despite these complications and the consequent hospital expenses entailed, her parents did not despair. They met these new challenges with more love for baby Sophie and more prayers to God.

After several months, baby Sophie's condition reached a certain level of improvement. But she was still experiencing physical pain. Though her body was suffering, baby Sophie's heart was overflowing with much happiness. Because she was in the loving arms of her mom and dad. Their love for her was the best painkiller. On August of this year, after almost a year, baby Sophie was finally discharged from the hospital. And like Hannah, baby Sophie was so happy moving in to her real home. Last September 28, baby Sophie celebrated her thanksgiving birthday party and her Christening. This was the happiest day in the Delgado Family's life. And no one was happier than baby Sophie. She remembered her prayer to God and thanked Him, for His answer was more than she expected. Her parents' love for her did not only fill her heart. Their love for baby Sophie has spread throughout her entire being.

Yesterday, baby Sophie had another conversation with God. Her prayer to him was that of thanksgiving. She thanked God for answering her prayer and for blessing her with so much love from her parents. And then, she asked God if He could answer another prayer of hers. This time she prayed for God to give her rest. And it was not only because her body was tired of all the pain and discomfort. She told God "Papa Jesus, ayaw ko na po mahirapan ang mommy at daddy ko. Kawawa naman po sila. Pagpahingahin Ninyo na po ako. Wala na po akong mahihiling pa. Busog na busog na po ako sa pagmamahal nina mommy at daddy." The love baby Sophie felt and experienced from Cris and Aicel was so overwhelming that she wanted to show how much she loves them by offering to give her life for them. Again, God's heart listened and answered baby Sophie's prayer.

As I was reflecting on this brave family's story, I felt my eyes and my heart fill up with tears. Not because I was disheartened by the tragedy of Sophie's passing. But more because of awe and admiration at the love that Cris, Aicel, and baby Sophie shared and gave each other.

We love you and we will truly miss you baby Sophie.
You and your parents are forever engraved in our hearts' prayers.

If you wish to send baby Sophie, Cris, and Aicel a short prayer or message, you may do so by visiting baby Sophie's Multiply website. Simply click on the image above of Mama Mary carrying baby Sophie. Thank you so much and God Bless.


July 31, 2008

Thank you so very much for helping us through all the powerful prayers you offered and all the financial support you've shared for our baby Hannah Ysabelle. It is a miracle how much strength she has drawn from your tremendous kindness, compassion, and generosity.

Through the help of families and friends, we were able to discharge her last May 17 from the hospital and transition her to home care. At long last (after almost 9 months), Hannah was finally home! Truly a dream come true for all of us. You can tell by how much Hannah's face lights up every single day in her room that she has found greater happiness at home. And we have God, through all of you, to thank for blessing our daughter with this overflowing happiness.

Hannah is now nearing her 1st birthday and is truly a bundle ball of joy. The impact that she has on both our hearts is simply overwhelming. We never knew how much love Joan and I could feel before God blessed us with Hannah. Thank you Lord for loving us so much!

It's still a long journey ahead for us. We will have our ups and downs, as all others do. But Joan and I could not ask for more. We have Hannah. We have our family. And we have you. All other things become pale in comparison. We will never be shaken in our faith. We will continue to fight the good fight for Hannah. Keeping in our hearts and minds the selfless love you all have shared to a family, who most of you, have never even met.

Again, we can never thank all of you enough for all your help. We hope that we too can be great Samaritans as you were to us. May the Good Lord reward your generosity a hundred-thousand-million fold!

You will always be in our prayers. God bless you and your families always!

Sincerely,
Carlo and Joan

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Hannah's letter last October 14, 2007

Dear Friends,

Hi! I am baby Hannah Ysabelle. I was born on August 14, 2007, so I am exactly 2 months old now. I can do a lot of things that make my Daddy Carlo and my Mommy Joan very happy. I can move my arms and legs now. I can also hear the sweet voices of my mom and dad calling my name. Oh, and I drink a lot of milk now, though sometimes not the usual way. I also get tickled everytime my dad touches the soles of my feet. I smile whenever he does this. Mom and Dad doubly smile when I smile. Picture nga ng picture! Dami ko na ngang photos di naman ako celebrity!

Really, I can do a lot of things now, EXCEPT that I can hardly breathe when I'm awake, and I don't breathe at all when I'm asleep. You know why? The doctors said I have CONGENITAL CENTRAL HYPOVENTILATION SYNDROME (CCHS). This means that the nerve center that is supposed to make me breathe is not functioning now. The doctors had to cut a hole on my throat, put in a TRACHEOSTOMY TUBE and attach it to a RESPIRATOR to keep me breathing. I also have a feeding tube through my mouth, off and on, because I can't swallow well sometimes. I feel so uncomfortable with all these tubes attached to my body. And I can't help crying out in pain everytime the nurses suction my tubes to clear my passages.

The doctors said this syndrome occurs only in about 1 out of every 1M newborns. This means God gave normal, healthy breathing to 999,999 other babies, but not to me. WHY? I don't know! Good girl naman po ako and my parents are also very kind people. You know, everytime I look around in the nursery and see the other normal babies without any tube attached to them, the more I feel the pain and loneliness of being the "one" in this statistic. I have been in the neonatal ICU's of two hospitals almost since birth. I'm supposed to bring joy and hope to my parents. Instead, I sometimes feel the anguish and grief in their hearts.

I thank God for the life He gave me. I know He loves me so much, but I also want to have a normal, healthy life. I want to feel the warm hugs and kisses of my mom - just like other babies. I don't know how much more pain my parents and I can endure.

Please pray for me. Please pray that God will finally give me the complete healing and the healthy lungs that I need, sana before Christmas. I want to go home na! You know what, if God completely heals me, I'll be a Pink Sister when I grow up. Promise!

God bless you all!

Asking for your prayers,

Hannah Ysabelle S. Cordoviz