June 20, 2024
Beating the Odds: How Hope and Compassion Saved Baby Bella’s Heart
By Ben Baquilod
When Mylene Retalla gave birth to her first child more than a year ago, the first news she received was devastating.
“Mommy, something’s wrong with your child,” said the attending physician who had detected abnormal heartbeats in Mylene’s baby hours before delivery. When Baby Bella was born, an echocardiogram confirmed she had a ventricular septal defect and a patent ductus arteriosus. “I had no idea why she had heart problems,” recalls the shocked and confused first-time mother, now 27.
Due to the severity and urgency of Bella’s condition, the doctor recommended open-heart surgery when she reached one year old. In the meantime, Bella was prescribed cardiac medications.
Mylene became Bella’s primary caretaker while her husband, Michael, 35, worked as a sari-sari store helper, earning only Php 5,000 monthly. Financial difficulties meant they often relied on relatives for Bella’s medicines and vitamins. The situation was made even more painful by seeing their child suffer.
Bella’s heart problem also caused frequent respiratory tract infections. “Sometimes, when she’s playing, she would stop and gasp for air,” Mylene shares. “She would wake up in the middle of the night, calling ‘Mama! Mama!’ because she couldn’t breathe, then cry very hard.”
Mylene wished she could take Bella’s pain away and experience it herself to relieve her baby’s suffering. “Many times, I got really scared that her incessant crying would lead to a heart attack,” she recalls, feeling helpless—one of the most difficult emotions for a mother.
When Bella turned one, they went to the Philippine Heart Center for medical assistance. She was diagnosed with congenital heart disease, ventricular septal defect, and perimembranous and subvalvular aortic stenosis and was advised to undergo heart surgery costing Php 578,000. They needed to deposit Php 300,000 to secure the urgent operation.
The amount was far beyond their means. Mylene desperately sought help from various government agencies for months, raising only about Php 50,000. Completing the Php 300,000 proved to be a long and arduous process—until she discovered Tzu Chi and sought their assistance.
Upon hearing Bella's case, conducting a home visit, and recognizing the urgent need for surgery, the foundation granted her request, providing Php 250,000 through a guarantee letter and committing to follow-up care visits.
On May 8, 2024, Bella’s open-heart surgery was successfully performed, delighting and impressing the doctors. “They were amazed by Bella because she was so strong. Her courage throughout the surgery surprised them,” Mylene says.
Today, Bella is recuperating at home and showing significant improvements in her health and well-being. “She’s now so lively. Sometimes, she even gets a bit naughty,” Mylene smiles.
Reflecting on their hardships, Mylene and Michael feel immense hope and gratitude. With both their parents no longer alive, they had no one to rely on except themselves—until they met Tzu Chi, who assisted them every step of the way.
“It feels wonderful that God sent people to help us. I thank Tzu Chi Foundation and the volunteers for caring for us,” Mylene says.
Baby Bella must continue her recovery and medication, so their journey isn't over yet. But with Bella’s health improving dramatically, Mylene and Michael have found renewed strength to press on, work for a better life for Bella, and love her unconditionally.
“My number one dream for Bella is for her to be free of illness, so she can go to school soon and have a good education,” Mylene says with tears of hope. Thanks to Tzu Chi volunteers, she’s no longer alone in dreaming for Bella and providing her with compassion and relief—the very meaning and mission of Tzu Chi.
Diagnosed with congenital heart disease, including a ventricular septal defect and perimembranous and subvalvular aortic stenosis, Bella Acebu underwent life-saving open-heart surgery at the Philippine Heart Center on May 8, 2024
Baby Bella showed admirable courage during her operation, recovering quickly to the delight of her doctors.
Baby Bella on a video call with her father, Michael, after the surgery.
Accompanied by her mother, Mylene, baby Bella attends Tzu Chi’s Charity Day at the Buddhist Tzu Chi Campus on May 26, 2024, just 18 days after her surgery, to learn from volunteers and receive rice and groceries.
Baby Bella happily smiles for a photo with her parents during Tzu Chi’s Charity Day.
Tzu Chi volunteers visit Bella’s home more than a month after her surgery.
Baby Bella has shown significant improvements since the surgery. “She’s now so lively. Sometimes, she even gets a bit naughty,” Mylene shares.
Baby Bella giggles as she receives snacks from Tzu Chi volunteers.
Tzu Chi volunteers visit Bella’s home to check on the family’s situation after the surgery.