Help Gabi Recover from a Life Changing Accident

Our daughter, Gabi, is known by family and friends as a very shy and fun girl. She loves running, reading, fashion, and playing the flute in the marching band. She loves to spend time with her family and friends. Gabi never misses a chance to see her friends when she comes from school.

Gabi is a student at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). She was inspired during the pandemic to study vaccinology and is majoring in Biomedical Science. She was also excited that she could engage in their co-op program and continue to study the flute.

After knocking out her first semester as a college student, Gabi was scheduled to come home for her winter break. She texted us on December 14, a day early, to tell us she was coming home the next day. She wanted to beat the pending snowstorm. We were so happy and could not wait for her to come home for the holidays. She packed up her plant babies and headed home with a friend.

On her way home, their car lost control and hit a guardrail on I-81 near Binghamton, NY. Their car was not driveable because the airbags were deployed, but everyone was okay. Gabi does not remember leaving the car. However, she did leave the car to remove their things from the trunk. Another student driving home for the holidays, lost control in the same place striking Gabi and her friend while outside the protection of the car. The State Trooper found them on the ground at the scene.

Gabi’s leg was severely damaged. All three veins in her left leg were severed. She underwent two vein bypass surgeries in an attempt to save her leg. They were unsuccessful. Eventually, they had to amputate the lower portion of her leg. She is now a below-the-knee amputee. That wasn’t her only injury. She also sustained facial fractures of the jaw, eye socket, and cheek. She had bleeding on the brain, and now severe scars from a skin graft and two large incisions down both legs.

Gabi spent 27 days in a Syracuse hospital. She celebrated Christmas and New Year's in a hospital room, away from home and most of her family and friends. Right now, Gabi cannot do any of the things she loves. She cannot run or play her flute, nor can she return to school this upcoming semester. Despite this tragic accident, Gabi remains positive. She is hopeful for the future and lifts us up with her determination.

There are no words to describe how grateful we are that Gabi is alive and that she is finally close to home. However, we are about to face some enormous financial costs to retrofit our home to make it accessible for Gabi. She is currently receiving expert care and rehabbing at the Kessler Center. Additionally, we recently learned that insurance will only cover one prosthetic. That will be fine for everyday life, but Gabi is a runner and a swimmer. Each of those activities requires a different and very expensive prosthetic. We want to do everything we can to support her journey as she works to return to all of the things she loves to do.

Please help us by donating and/or sharing our page with anyone who may be inspired to help.