Hearing Heartbeats for Christmas

Christmas in the Philippines is joyous, a time when family comes first and a warm energy permeates the soul of the city. It is a time for laughter and music, and it is also a time for giving. For one little girl and her family, Christmas would be extra special.

In November 2014, a father carried his 6-year-old daughter through the crowd of waiting patients at our hearing mission in General Santos. The girl, Gabriel, shyly smiled from her father’s arms, but despite her smile, she looked tired, lacking the youthful exuberance of a typical 6-year-old.

Her father approached Bill and Tani Austin and asked, “Is it possible to give her hearing aids? It would mean a lot to us all if she can hear this Christmas, because it might be her last one with us.”

Concerned, Bill asked why it would be her last Christmas. Her father explained that Gabriel suffered from a heart condition and desperately needed open-heart surgery to survive.

Her parents had tried to provide her with all the care she needed, but they didn’t have the money to pay for the surgery.

After hearing this story, the Austins knew they had to help. They immediately offered to pay for Gabby’s operation, including hospital costs and flights. Her father was stunned and could not believe the miraculous gift the Austins had just given their family. Bill Austin simply smiled and replied, “When we come back again, we will see her strong and that will be our reward.”

Shortly after the hearing mission, Gabby had her aortic valve repaired during a two-hour, open-heart operation. The operation was extremely risky, but everything went very well and Gabby was smiling soon after.

Over the last year, Gabby has continued to recover and grow stronger. Her smile has also gotten brighter! She started school in June for the very first time, and we are so pleased she will hear the sounds of her classmates, her family, and of Christmas, for years to come.