Julyana Niña C. Samson is a healthy, vibrant and active girl, who just celebrated her 13th birthday, but she wasn’t always that way. When Julyana was an infant, she was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect that left a hole in her heart requiring lifesaving surgery. The Nu Skin Southeast Asia Children’s Heart Fund (SEACHF) not only paid for the operation but went the extra mile to transport her to the hospital. This resulted in Julyana becoming the first cross boarder recipient of SEACHF, as she was from the Philippines but needed to have the surgery at a leading hospital in Thailand.

Today, Julyana is a sixth grade student at St. Therese Educational Foundation of Tacloban Inc. She will graduate in April, and has plans to take the entrance exam for Leyte National High School ESEP (Engineering & Science Education Program). In addition to her academic pursuits, Julyana hopes to advance her tennis skills. She recently won the bronze medal playing lawn tennis singles in a tournament where she represented her school. Julyana said she is proud of her achievements and knows they wouldn’t have happened without the help from SEACHF.

“We are back to being a big and happy family and that’s what matters,” she said. “I am grateful for Nu Skin, and someday I will become an engineer and will be in a position to help others the way I was helped.” ■

To learn more, visit forceforgood.org.