November, last year. The team flew to Naga City, Bicol to visit one of our staff member’s niece. A one-year-old baby named Arianna.

At one glance, you will notice that something is really different from her. It’s not her twinkling eyes or her squishy baby cheeks. It’s her oversized head caused by hydrocephalus. A brain condition that happens when the cerebrospinal fluid can’t be drained, making her head to swell to make room for the excess fluid.  Aside from this, Baby Arianna was also born with Intestinal Malrotation, an anomaly of rotation of the intestines.

Although Hydrocephalus and Intestinal Malrotation are both treatable by surgery, Baby Arianna’s parents are unable to have her treated due to lack of means to pay for her medical expenses. Her father decided to quit his job to stay at home to focus on taking good care of her and her two older siblings; which leaves her mother, a school teacher, to work alone.

At a tender age of 1, Arianna has been suffering from these ailments which affected her growth and development. That is why the James Mackay Foundation didn’t waste time to help Baby Arianna and her parents. The foundation immediately booked a flight to Naga City to assist her needs and give her hope and support.

During the visit, they found out how inspiring Baby Arianna and her parents are. They were touched because the whole family remains positive and optimistic in life despite the problems they are facing. The Foundation, with the help of the community and everyone’s support, shouldered Baby Arianna’s medical expenses. They quickly had her checked and found out that through the continuous intake of medicine they will be able to handle and stop the swelling of her head. She also underwent a colostomy operation so she can have a normal digestion and growth. It also reduces the risk of infection while they wait for the next surgery.

A year later, with your continuous help and support, together with us, James Mackay Foundation, Baby Arianna is no more the weak looking baby who just lay down in her cot silently looking at you with curiosity. She is now able to sit up, spread out her pudgy arms in the air, and play with her parents and siblings. You can even hear her jolly laughter in a mile and finally see her ever more twinkling eyes. The foundation will continuously assist baby Ariana and her family.

We are grateful for all the heartfelt generosity of our community, donors, and major partners and sponsors; Mackay Green Energy Inc., MLA Healthcare, and Van Kessel Energy. Your kindness and support made all of this possible.

Our team is praying ceaselessly for her to get better soon and are very thankful to have the blessing of meeting Baby Arianna and her parents. To see her transformation and learn that she will never miss out on any of her childhood milestones, truly makes us fulfilled and even more inspired to reach out and help people in need.