Heart for Gabby
Donation protected
Gabby is a fun, loving, and funny 12 year old red headed young athlete. She is a friend, a daughter to Jack and Farraha and a baby sister to brothers Talon and Aidan. She is very strong and loves her family and friends. Gabby has been a gymnast since age 6 and she’s also started cheerleading last year where she was welcomed into a wonderful cheer family and a whole new world where she, along with her team are now National Champions. Within the blink of an eye, Gabby's life changed and she can no longer do those things that she loves so dearly.
On July 24, 2020 Gabby was complaining of chest pain to the point she was crying. Gabby's Dad Jack took her to the local ER where they said her heart was “big” and suggested her parents follow up with a Pediatric Cardiologist. Because of COVID the earliest appointment was July 31 where she was then diagnosed with ventricular inversion, the Epstein anomaly, and other heart defects. Basically, this means everything with her heart is backwards and valves & arteries are crossed when they shouldn’t be which has caused a leakage of fluids around her heart. Gabby's family then learned she had been born with this but never knew. As you might imagine this has been a very hard and challenging thing for Gabby to not be able to be a part of her teams and sports. For her she feels like it’s not fair and it’s ruined everything.
Gabby was scheduled to have a open heart surgery on Oct 19 to put a band around her pulmonary artery but once they opened her up they realized there was no way this procedure can be done safely. Once the surgery was finished her parents met with the surgeon and found out her heart has gotten even worse and the surgery could not be done leaving her with the news that the only route left is a heart transplant. They are currently meeting with transplant teams and starting the evaluations necessary to proceed. They are in the ICU unit at children’s hospital in Dallas where they are trying to get Gabby's heart strong enough to handle a transplant and at some point, hopefully healthy enough to wait for transplant at home, however this is not a possibility for her at this time. Her brothers are forced to stay away from her during COVID due to hospital regulations and are terribly upset and worried.
Gabby's recovery will be a long and complicated road and at this point the anticipated amount of time in the ICU remains undetermined. Gabby is on two paths simultaneously; healing from the surgery, and trying to get her heart stronger for better success with a transplant. Gabby's family is very concerned about the new road they are going down and they are struggling with the fact that her father Jack will have to go back to work by October 30 instead of being with Gabby and focusing on Gabby with her in the hospital. Not to mention the thought of what could happen while he is gone. The terrifying and heartbreaking fact is that no one knows what each day will bring Gabby and her family as they navigate this horrifying terrain. On one hand, Jack needs to work to keep the bills paid, but Gabby and her mother Farraha do not want him to leave her side. Jack is known as Gabby's rock and she desperately needs him with her. The pride within the family has kept them from accepting or asking for help, but this is too important and they are turning to God for the answers as we are trying everything we can to help them monetarily. They need help with meal cost, travel cost, daily living cost at both the hospital and also at home so Jack may stay at the hospital where his wife and daughter need him.
Ways to help: 1. pray and pray then pray some more 2. Share Gabbys Story 3. Help in donations 4. Send gabby encouraging notes to lift her spirits!
On November 11th we will have Gabby Strong Warrior Bracelets available. You can get yours two different ways. 1) Donate $20+, Share this Go Fund Me page, then email kerjon2013 which is @hotmail.com your address for shipping. 2) email kerjon2013 which is @hotmail.com your requested number of bracelet's and pay per item + shipping.
ALL PROCEEDS go to Gabby's family!
On July 24, 2020 Gabby was complaining of chest pain to the point she was crying. Gabby's Dad Jack took her to the local ER where they said her heart was “big” and suggested her parents follow up with a Pediatric Cardiologist. Because of COVID the earliest appointment was July 31 where she was then diagnosed with ventricular inversion, the Epstein anomaly, and other heart defects. Basically, this means everything with her heart is backwards and valves & arteries are crossed when they shouldn’t be which has caused a leakage of fluids around her heart. Gabby's family then learned she had been born with this but never knew. As you might imagine this has been a very hard and challenging thing for Gabby to not be able to be a part of her teams and sports. For her she feels like it’s not fair and it’s ruined everything.
Gabby was scheduled to have a open heart surgery on Oct 19 to put a band around her pulmonary artery but once they opened her up they realized there was no way this procedure can be done safely. Once the surgery was finished her parents met with the surgeon and found out her heart has gotten even worse and the surgery could not be done leaving her with the news that the only route left is a heart transplant. They are currently meeting with transplant teams and starting the evaluations necessary to proceed. They are in the ICU unit at children’s hospital in Dallas where they are trying to get Gabby's heart strong enough to handle a transplant and at some point, hopefully healthy enough to wait for transplant at home, however this is not a possibility for her at this time. Her brothers are forced to stay away from her during COVID due to hospital regulations and are terribly upset and worried.
Gabby's recovery will be a long and complicated road and at this point the anticipated amount of time in the ICU remains undetermined. Gabby is on two paths simultaneously; healing from the surgery, and trying to get her heart stronger for better success with a transplant. Gabby's family is very concerned about the new road they are going down and they are struggling with the fact that her father Jack will have to go back to work by October 30 instead of being with Gabby and focusing on Gabby with her in the hospital. Not to mention the thought of what could happen while he is gone. The terrifying and heartbreaking fact is that no one knows what each day will bring Gabby and her family as they navigate this horrifying terrain. On one hand, Jack needs to work to keep the bills paid, but Gabby and her mother Farraha do not want him to leave her side. Jack is known as Gabby's rock and she desperately needs him with her. The pride within the family has kept them from accepting or asking for help, but this is too important and they are turning to God for the answers as we are trying everything we can to help them monetarily. They need help with meal cost, travel cost, daily living cost at both the hospital and also at home so Jack may stay at the hospital where his wife and daughter need him.
Ways to help: 1. pray and pray then pray some more 2. Share Gabbys Story 3. Help in donations 4. Send gabby encouraging notes to lift her spirits!
On November 11th we will have Gabby Strong Warrior Bracelets available. You can get yours two different ways. 1) Donate $20+, Share this Go Fund Me page, then email kerjon2013 which is @hotmail.com your address for shipping. 2) email kerjon2013 which is @hotmail.com your requested number of bracelet's and pay per item + shipping.
ALL PROCEEDS go to Gabby's family!
Organizer and beneficiary
Kerri Roberts
Organizer
Helix, OR
Jack Barbre
Beneficiary