Help Give Tala a Second Chance at Life – Our Little Star Nee

In a small town in the Philippines, under the warmth of the island sun, lives a brave little girl named Anne Patrice. She’s only one year and six months old, yet she carries a story that has moved hearts and brought a family closer in love and prayer than ever before.

From the moment she was born, we knew she was special. Her smile lights up the room, and her laughter brings joy that words can’t describe. But behind those bright eyes lies a battle—one we never imagined we’d face so soon.

She was diagnosed with Congenital Heart Disease, specifically Tetralogy of Fallot, Pulmonary Valve Atresia, Patent Ductus Arteriosus, and a Ventricular Septal Defect—a string of medical terms no parent or family should ever have to learn, let alone understand for someone so tiny and precious.

Her heart, though full of love, struggles every day just to do what comes naturally to most. Simple things like feeding or playing leave her exhausted. Her tiny chest rises and falls with such effort, it’s hard to believe how strong she truly is. Every breath she takes is a triumph.

The doctors have been kind and honest. Without surgery, they say, her lifespan might only reach five years. Five years… It’s a number that haunts us. Because she deserves a full life—a life of birthdays, first days at school, scraped knees, and endless laughter.

But in the Philippines, healthcare for complex conditions like hers is not easy to come by. The hospitals are underfunded, the waiting lists are long, and the costs are overwhelming. It breaks our hearts knowing that the difference between life and death could come down to where a child is born.

Living here in Australia, I see the contrast every day. The care, the access, the support—it’s what every child deserves, regardless of where they live. And that’s why we are doing everything we can to give her that fighting chance.

She needs urgent surgery, and time is running out. But our family believes in miracles, in the kindness of strangers, and in the strength of community. She may have been born with a broken heart, but she has given us all a purpose: to fight alongside her and give her the life she was meant to live.

Please keep her in your prayers, and if you can help, know that you’re not just helping save a life—you’re helping give a little girl the future she deserves.

Her name is Anne Patrice Acaba. She is our heart warrior. And her story is far from over.