By Patricia “Shaan” Bermudez-Hizon 

I was born with a congenital heart defect. My parents did not know that the hole in my tiny heart was causing an abnormal flow pattern and that it was adversely affecting my heart’s rhythm. I have been told that I was a shy child, very quiet, quite serious and not as active as my cousins and siblings. They just thought that it was my character. Now that I think about it, it was just probably my weak heart.

I didn’t get an operation. I didn’t need to. Though I could not fully comprehend the predicament my parents were going through having a child with a Ventricular Septal Defect or a hole in the heart, I do recall my mom crying often specially during one of my doctor’s visits. I probably was 5 years old then, about the same as my eldest now. I would cry as hard as my mother did if my child ever got sick.

There were numerous paths my parents could have taken to address my health issues, but the decision was to wait a few years and see. VSD can spontaneously heal without any medical intervention. After a few years, the doctors said my hole was getting smaller. Prayers were answered.

But not all children born with a defective heart get divine intervention. They rely on angels disguised as doctors and their open heart surgery expertise.

On the last day of the month of hearts, February, my husband and I with the kids in tow, had the opportunity to spend time with the young beneficiaries of CAMP BRAVEHEART, an organization created to bring together children with similar life experiences brought about by their heart ailments.

The camp is a venue for kids to try activities in an atmosphere that is encouraging and non-threatening. This year’s camp was held in the magical Enchanted Kingdom with the theme “LITTLE HEROES ON THE GO” with members from the Philippine Heart Association, the Council of Congenital Hearth Disease, Philippine Society of Pediatric Cardiology and the Children’s Hearth Foundation together with the student and teacher volunteers from PAREF Woodrose School and Pure Play Sports Management Inc.

The group took the opportunity to further educate the parents of these kids on their conditions while their kids went around the park with volunteers who chaperoned them around the heart-friendly rides. And it was to drive the point that these kids can lead normal lives. How I wish they were around when I was young and sheltered. My parents wouldn’t have been so paranoid.

Parents were treated to seminars on tell tale signs of heart trouble, proper care and treatment of their child, and basically outlined the parameters of their child’s situation. Meanwhile the children were treated like VIPS and even had the opportunity to interact with the Mamon family, the force behind the park. What a memorable experience for them.

I have to say, the people behind Camp Brave Heart gave those kids such a wonderful experience. Hats off to those who fix hearts not only through stitches and medications, but by giving time, energy, and love.

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