In 1993, a couple expressed the desire to adopt a Filipina baby girl. Mrs. Carmen V. Bondoc was requested to find the baby. The following year, with the help of a friend, Mrs. Bondoc found a pregnant woman who was willing to give away her baby for adoption and was due to deliver in February 1995. The ultrasound confirmed that the baby was a girl.

A healthy looking baby girl was born on February 19, 1995! On the following day the baby was immediately brought to the house of Mrs. Bondoc. The family pediatrician confirmed that the baby was normal and healthy.

On the third month, those around her noticed that the baby’s eyes could not focus well.
She was diagnosed to have “nystagmus”, a rhythmic rotative movement of the eyes
coming from a congenital malformation of the brain.

By this time, the Bondoc family decided to keep the baby. Renamed Maria Carmela
Thérèse Eugénie, “Risa” became the third adopted daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Rosendo
Bondoc.

At six months, Risa went through medical examinations that showed a weakness of eye muscles. The pediatric ophthalmologist said that she would have difficulty seeing and would never be able to read fine print without the use of very high-grade lenses. The same doctor also said that the problem comes from the brain. He suggested that the family consult a pediatric neurologist.

After a thorough examination, the pediatric neurologist recommended an MRI (Magnetic
Resonance Imaging) of the brain. The results showed a malformation of the left hemisphere of the brain. The corpus pellucidum was missing and the corpus callosum that connected the two hemispheres did not form.

With this news the Bondoc family stormed heaven and prayed especially to Blessed Marie-Eugénie. They made the Novena through her intercession for the cure of Risa. Since then, the child always wears the medal with the relic of Marie-Eugénie.

The pediatric neurologist explained that Risa would be prone to seizures and other related illnesses to this kind of brain damage. They should guard against sudden changes in cerebral temperature. She also told them that there was no cure and only a miracle would make her function normally. Another doctor also affirmed that Risa would never walk, talk, nor see.

Risa was one year and three months when she was brought for consultation to Houston Children’s Hospital, where several specialists examined her. The first doctor was a pediatric ophthalmologist who said that Risa would never see because she had no optic nerves. The pediatric neurologist diagnosed her malady as “septo-optic-dysplasia with left schizencephaly”. The MRI findings in Houston stated that the septum pellucidum is absent, the corpus callosum was not formed and there is hypoplasia of the optic nerves and a chiasm. The pituitary gland and hypothalamic stalk were very small. This means that the left side of the brain did not form completely, there were not enough neurons, and the corpus callosum that connected the left and the right hemispheres of the brain did not form or simply did not exist at all.

From Houston, Risa was brought directly to the Convent of the Religious of the Assumption in Paris. In the presence of the Superior General, Sister Cristina Maria and
two of her councilors, Risa was laid on top of the tomb of Blessed Marie-Eugénie Milleret and they commended her cure through Marie-Eugénie’s intercession.

After seven months, little Risa was diagnosed to have diabetes insipidus.

In 1997, when Risa was brought back to Houston for another visit, the pediatric neurologist who followed her up said that “her present capabilities are truly exceptional…her level of function is extraordinary”. Risa is a student in Assumption College, Department of Basic Education. “Her language development corresponds to the level of her peers. She continues to show a high level of social skills and an intellectual aptitude that corresponds to her age, as well as a formidable disposition to fulfill the required task.”
October 9, 2003
San Lorenzo – Philippines
N.B. Risa turned 12 years old on February 19, 2007.