A Promise of Health Through South Korean Medical Care
South Korean medical care has brought a life-changing smile back to 14-year-old Vincent Valente, who recently underwent successful heart surgery in South Korea. After promising his doctor that he would stay healthy and finally play like other kids, Valente is set to return to the Philippines following his recovery.
Overcoming Severe Heart Defects
Valente, a student at the ‘Maria’s House of the Boy’ residential school for underprivileged youths in Cebu, Philippines, had long suffered from an atrial septal defect (ASD), a condition involving a hole in the wall separating the heart’s upper chambers. First showing severe coughing symptoms at six months old, his family struggled to access specialized care located five hours away due to financial constraints.
A Journey of Hope to South Korea
In November 2025, an unexpected opportunity arose when Seoul National University College of Medicineโs Lee Jong-wook Global Medicine Center screened students at the facility and discovered Valente’s condition. Partnering with Bundang Seoul National University Hospital, the center invited him to South Korea for treatment. Upon admission on September 1, 2026, medical staff discovered an additional condition, partial anomalous pulmonary venous return, which significantly complicated the surgery. Thanks to a collaborative effort by the hospital’s cardiovascular surgery and pediatrics departments, the operation was successfully completed on September 4, allowing Valente to be discharged in healthy condition on September 9.
