Adrian Magalona, 18, died after a massive hemorrhage, according to her aunt and guardian, Suzanne Nazal.

Magalona was to undergo an October operation with Dr. John A. Persing, professor and chief of plastic surgery at Yale School of Medicine, who agreed to waive his professional fee and even brought Magalona’s case to Yale New Haven Health System, which approved the request for free medical care.

Persing, a world-famous surgeon who is also president of the American Board of Plastic Surgery, was saddened by Magalona’s passing, according to Dorita Urrata, director of Children’s Chance, Inc. based in Connecticut, and who arranged for Magalona’s operation and trip to the U.S. in coordination with the Philippine Airlines Foundation through its executive director Menchu Sarmiento.

Magalona was suffering from a rare but curable congenital disease called arteriovenous malformation (AVM) that resulted in serious disfigurement of his face and hemorrhaging, depriving him a normal life.

The ailment had affected his heart as well as vision, and often triggered massive bleeding through the nose and mouth. He had two episodes of profuse bleeding through his left ear last year and was rushed to an Iloilo hospital, and again early this month.

“They had kept him in the hospital since his last hemorrhage because they were so worried about him,” said Sarmiento in an e-mail to Urrata. “He really wasn’t meant to be.”

“(Suzanne Nazal) thanked me for giving them hope till the very end, Sarmiento wrote. “It’s really sad for the family — first their mother, and then Adrian.”

“I was really devastated by the news,” said Urrata. “All Adrian wanted was to lead a normal and healthy life. Until the end, all of us thought he will be able to realize his dreams.”

Magalona was born to teenage parents. At age 4, he was legally adopted by his biological grandmother, Rizalina Magalona, herself a mother of five grownups.

Until Rizalina’s death on May 26, she was hopeful the Adrian will be completely cured.

Urrata said the two checks ($25 and $20) Children’s Chance received on behalf of Magalona will be returned to the senders. However, she expressed hope that those senders will again support the next ailing Filipino child who will be sponsored by Children’s Chance and PAL Foundation.

Children’s Chance is currently sponsoring a blind Iraqi girl who just arrived in the U.S. for free surgery.