Wendy Valdez opens up about baby’s medical condition
MANILA, Philippines — In time for her son Emmanuel Seth’s first birthday, former “Pinoy Big Brother” housemate Wendy Valdez revealed on her Instagram account her and husband Norman Garcia’s happiness and hardship in raising their son, who has a medical condition called spina bifida.
According to scientific research, spina bifida is when a baby's spine and spinal cord do not develop properly in the womb, causing a gap in the spine. It is a type of neural tube defect. The neural tube is the structure that eventually develops into the baby's brain and spinal cord.
Wendy started the video by sharing how shocked she was upon learning that the baby in her womb has the disease.
"When God blessed us with Seth, I was devastated to find out he has spina bifida. It’s a condition that may not allow him to walk, urinate, or poop properly on his own. His hip bone is not in the right position, and he has mild hydrocephalus—all caused by an opening in his spine while he was still in the womb. Most diagnoses we got every check-up were heartbreaking to hear, but every ultrasound, Seth would moved inside of me as if letting us know how excited he is to live,” she said in the video.
Wendy continued by saying how she plans to have perfect scenarios with her son in the future. Nonetheless, she admitted that “life is never like a fairytale.”
"My dreams for him and me were… running, walking, climbing mountains with him, like in the movies or other seemingly perfect scenarios that I have pictured for our family," she said.
"But… the truth is that this world is full of broken bodies because of sickness and disease; broken hearts from pain and hurt and selfishness and sin. Constant happiness is never certain, only God's presence in our life is sure,” she added.
The former Kapamilya actress said that when Seth was born, “he immediately underwent an operation to close his spine and go through surgery on his cyst.” Her baby spent a month in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), so they can manage his condition.
"In the beginning, I was always afraid something is wrong with him when he cries. I'd get torn whenever doctors would say that his hip and head were not getting any better. I cried most of the time to God for help. I know He hears me, and He is sustaining us one day at a time doing what we can do and trusting Him for tomorrow.”
Despite of their problems, the couple stays strong as they know God has dreams for their baby and “Seth is beautiful for us no matter what. A gift from the Lord."
"I don't know how things will work out, but somehow I see the hand of God in what continues to happen—not just with Seth's healing, but more so in our hearts and our faith. Our life now is not like most people's lives, but I know it has purpose.”
"I may never understand the Lord for allowing this to happen, but I know God is good with whatever He allows to happen in my life, in my family, and in the life of my son. In the Bible, God did not promise us a trial-free or trouble-life. What He promised is that with Him in our lives, we can overcome any trial we face,” Wendy noted.
As Seth’s health continues to improve, Wendy knows they still have a long road ahead of them and they are excited to find out what else Seth might do in the future.
"Today, Seth's head is seemingly in the safe size. So, we would probably not need any operation for that. His hips are finally in the right position after almost a year in braces, and his clubfoot is somehow corrected. “
She asked her followers to continue the prayers for Seth and their family.
