Choosing to Care

Caring and supporting children with Down Syndrome aggravated by Congenital Heart Disease seems weigh too much in many perspectives. It must be an agony for everyone to see children suffering from any illness, while money to secure their lives is never pouring—problems which boils down to monetary and emotional discomfort.

Yet, everything is well driven by love for the Li’l [Little] Brave Hearts (LBH), a non-profit organization of parents gifted with children with Down Syndrome. Running into their five years in service, LBH has a lot of stories which neither heard, nor always talk about. Stories which never echoed louder or even equal to its significance. Diminishing the stigma of having a “special child” and leading the society that life would not be any lesser while having them might be the hardest battle.

LBH was initialized by Ms. Sheila Gimeno, a parent of a child with Down Syndrome. Her awareness on the challenges and exceptional needs of people with DS and other health condition flamed her desire to create the organization. Her little actions have gotten the attention of other parents. They began raising funds to supply milk, diapers, and medicines as well as hospitalization expenses.

Through online product promotion of mugs, t-shirts, perfumes, and dishwashing liquids which are all made by the parents, the LBH has sustained a lot of children with Down Syndrome all over the Philippines. It has been a channel of blessing among families who could not afford medical interventions.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that Down Syndrome incidence worldwide is between 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 1,100 live births. In the Philippines, over a hundred thousand households are living with person in this condition.

Alapaap Media was able to visit two children from LBH: Zehb Francisco and Mady Sillacos.

Happy Heart of Zehb

Zehb has a congenital heart disease. Romeo, his father works as a factory worker and earns a little—just enough for their food and Zehb’s basic needs. Riza, Zehb’s mother cries whenever she recalls son’s hardships. It was a long unfortunate time for the family especially for her. Zehb’s heart condition had cause him to experience a lot to fight for his life. But it was a double and triple pain for Riza. They stumbled but they learned to stand each day.

Zehb’s medication is a quite long process. There are several tests prior to the main operation which cost even higher than the salary of his father. In their search for a support system, they found the Li’l [Little] Brave Hearts. In its full capacity, they helped and still helping Zehb in seeking for sponsors to finance his heart surgery.

Precious Eyes of Mady

On the other side of Metro Manila abode, the family of Mady Sillacos, a DS child with some eye anomaly. She recently lost her eyeballs which triggered a low self-esteem. Their situation gets even more challenging because his father Dandy, is also under medication due to heart failure.

May, Mady’s mother sells her home-made perfume to sustain Mady’s needs. When they met the Li’l [Little] Brave Hearts, they found a home. A home who knows their pain. A home who never discriminates their precious daughter.

At some point of her life, LBH founder Ms. Sheila Gimeno realized the urge to speak up, to let everybody know that they are not ashamed of having children with down syndrome. Their fellowship is a form of celebration. A moment to be proud of what their children can show the world.

“Ang buhay is mahalaga kahit na at some point meron tayong disability, meron tayong hindi kaya and ang mga anak namin ang nagpapakita na hindi hadlang ang disability nila para mabuhay ng maganda.” (“Life is precious even if at some point when we have some disabilities, when we can’t do some things. Our children show that some incapacities can never stop one to have a grateful life.”)

Watch our short documentary about Zehb and Mady and their families on Regalo (Gift).