the brownian motion of a photoplankton

Her name is Hannah Ysabelle.

Hannah is a beautiful 14 month old baby girl. She loves to dance, she loves having her photographs taken, she loves meeting and playing with new friends. If not for the strange strap around her neck, you wouldn't think she has a rare and lifetime condition.

Hannah was born with a condition called Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome or CCHS. She has trouble breathing when she's awake and she is unable to breathe when she's asleep. This is because the nerve that takes over her breathing when she's sleeping is not functioning properly. Because of this, doctors had to cut a hole through her throat, insert a tube and attach it to a respirator to keep her breathing. Hannah spent the first 9 months of her life in the hospital, and though she is now at home with her parents, she is still unable to go outdoors and enjoy the things that kids her age should be experiencing. She is using a mechanical respirator at home, which her parents Joan and Carlo rent, and she has to be watched at all times to make sure she doesn't accidentally remove or play with the tube on her throat especially when she is sleeping. Her parents are now raising money to buy her a portable ventilator by selling rosary bracelets and 5-decade rosaries.

We came across this story sometime in September, a few days away from our scheduled congenital anomaly scan for Gyro. The next Sunday, a day after we got very good results from the scan, we again read about her story from the newspapers. We knew that this was God speaking to us.

We contacted Joan, and offered to help her sell the rosaries. We spread the word to our friends, and got a very good response. This we considered to be Gyro's gift to Hannah. This was our real endeavor as a family.

We visited Hannah at their home last Sunday, and were lucky that Hannah was awake. Joan's mom kindly brought Hannah out of her room so we could meet her, and we couldn't believe how such a small bundle of joy could contain so much happiness, so much love, and so much hope. What equally inspired us was getting to know her amazing parents and her loving lola. I learned that Joan is a contemporary of mine from the UP College of Engineering. Carlo told us how long it took before her condition was correctly diagnosed and we can only imagine how difficult it must have been for them as doctors gave them one diagnosis after the other, and as they heard a cocktail of bad and good news only to see them fall apart, one after the other.

Hannah instanly made a connection with Janice. We believe that inside Janice's womb Gyro is jumping with joy, for being with a wonderful family, for being in their wonderful home. Hannah has the most amazing smile, and though we badly wanted to carry her in our arms, we had to restrain ourselves, afraid that she might be more fragile than she appears. The only clue you would have of her unique condition is her inability to laugh out of glee, as she needs a few more years to get learn how to use her vocal chords.

Knowing Hannah and her parents has changed us, as individuals, as parents, as Christians. Joan never forgets to thank us for the little help we are able to extend to Hannah. The truth is, I believe Hannah has helped us more than we will ever be able to help her. Through her, we witnessed first hand how a parent's unconditional love for a child is more powerful than despair. Hannah has shown us the true meaning of living, and because of her, our own faith has grown. Because of her, having Gyro in our life has become more meaningful by a thousandfold.

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More about Hannah here: http://hannahysabelle.multiply.com/

Buy Rosaries for Hannah and include her in your petitions. These rosaries and rosary bracelets are the most meaningful gifts you can give this Christmas. http://hannahysabelle.multiply.com/photos/album/20/rosaries_for_hannah

You can also order these rosaries through us. We will be glad to pick up your orders on your behalf. Just email me for more information.

Our Shell friends may also buy rosaries during the upcoming Shell Day in December. Look for our booth in the bazaar.