Gabriel's Fontan heart surgery

Gabriel is having his 4th open heart surgery for his congenital heart defect Hypoplastic left heart syndrome. If you don't personally know Gabriel, he is six year old boy born with a broken heart but so full of love and life. He has a smile that is so contagious and will light up a room. Gabriel has had 3 open heart surgeries and is currently in MUSC in Charleston SC for his 4th heart surgery. The surgery is called the Fontan.  I am Gabriel's Mom Dana, mother of 5. We are anticipating our hospital stay to be one month minimum. During this time I am unable to work so I can be with him during this hard time. I have created this go fund me in hopes to get some relief from the costs of gas, food and maybe some money towards our bills so nothing gets behind during this time. No amount is too small, anything helps. Again above all please pray for my sweet boy during this time. He is a warrior and I know he's in the best hands. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. 

Here's some info about the procedure he is having done. 

The idea of the Fontan is to Make blood from the lower part of the body go directly to the lungs. This lets the blood pick up oxygen without having to pass through the heart.

In babies with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, low-oxygen blood from the lower part of the body mixes with high-oxygen blood. After the Fontan procedure, low-oxygen blood and high-oxygen blood no longer mix. This lets the heart deliver only high-oxygen blood to the body.

In the Fontan procedure:

The inferior vena cava (IVC) is disconnected from the heart and routed directly to the pulmonary artery. Usually a large tube called a "conduit" is added to make the connection.

Often, a small hole or "fenestration" is created between the Fontan conduit and the right atrium. This lets some blood still flow directly back to the heart and acts as a "pop-off" valve as the lungs get used to the extra flow from the lower part of the body. This hole can be closed later with a cardiac catheterization procedure.

Blood from the lower body now goes to the pulmonary artery, and then to the lungs, without having to go to the heart. The right ventricle remains the main pump and now just sends blood coming back from the lungs with oxygen out to the body.

After the Fontan procedure, blood high in oxygen and blood low in oxygen are separated. That means more oxygen can get to the body.