Prayers for Gabriel

Update on Tuesday, January 24: Obituary

Gabriel Austin DeArmond was born on January 19th, 2022 at 11:54 p.m. at Ochsner Baptist to Austin and Valerie DeArmond. 366 days later, he was joyfully received into the loving embrace of Jesus Christ at 12:30 a.m. Gabe, or Gabey Baby as his sister affectionately named him, was a true joy to all who met him. His smile was infectious, his curiosity was deep, and he truly exuded love every single moment of his short life on earth. Some of his favorite pastimes included playing with his Momma’s hair, eating his weight in whatever food put before him, riding in his wagon around the neighborhood, bouncing balls around the house, pulling off Daddy’s books from his bookshelf, growling like a bear, yelling at Alexa to play music, splashing around during bathtimes, and intently watching any animal that came within eyesight. Gabe was the pride and joy of his sister. Both siblings found each other to be truly hilarious. Countless hours were spent playing with toys, dancing, and enjoying each other. Gabe looked up to Addison and she watched over him until the end. Addie was his best friend. Gabe is survived by his father (Austin), his mother (Valerie), his sister (Addison), his great grandparents Pawpaw Lou, Mawmaw Charlene, Pawpaw Johnnie, his Ma’mom and Pa’pop, his granny, his uncles Tyler, Don, Nick, Cade, his aunts Leelee, Lizzie, Brittany, Leelo, Aunt Yell and his wonderful cousins Jonah, Marley, Lily, James, and Archer as well as a church full of people who dearly loved Gabe.

The family would like to thank the St Charles parish EMS and the hospital staff at the Metairie and New Orleans Children's Hospital for every single thing that was done to save and sustain his precious life.

Austin and Valerie want to extend their immense gratitude to their family, church, and friends who encouraged, prayed for, and loved Gabriel from the beginning to the end of his earthly life. They have been overwhelmed by the response to Gabriel's Go Fund Me account. They will never forget the kindness and gifts from family, friends and complete strangers.

Above all, they praise and give thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ for the gift, the honor, and the privilege of those 366 days with Gabriel.

Services will be held on Thursday, January 26, 2023, at 1:00 PM in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Update on Saturday morning, January 21: Gabriel has passed away and now lives in God's arms. Now we are raising money for his funeral. Please be generous with your gifts because funerals are expensive. Please continue to pray for his grieving, devastated and always faithful family: Addie, his 4-year-old sister; Valerie, his mother; Austin, his father; Michelle, his grandmother; and all the family I don't know but who loved this little boy. LIttle Gabriel lived on this earth 366 days, and he never knew a moment without love. God bless and keep him forever.

Update on Friday, January 20: Yesterday was Gabriel's first birthday. He remains critically ill in a medically induced coma to let his swollen brain heal. He is on a ventilator. He is on high dose medicines to reduce the swelling. Gabe spent his first birthday unconscious in the pediatric intensive care unit. It is a dark and frightening time. Gabriel's family continues to ask for your prayers, for healing, for strength, for Gabe to wake up, for his strength and for the strength of his exhausted and devastated family.

Right now, Gabriel is desperately ill.

What follows is the original post.

My name is Gail, and I'm a good friend of this beautiful baby little boy's grandmother. His name is Gabriel, and yesterday this apparently healthy 11-month-old baby began having seizures and stopped breathing, just like that. His parents Austin and Valerie D'Armond rushed him to Children's Hospital in New Orleans, where he is in pediatric intensive care.

Austin, Valerie and their 2-year-old daughter Addie lost their home to Hurricane Ida in 2021. Austin, Valerie and little Addie are committed Christians who put their trust in God. They lived with friends for months before they found a new place to live. Then, in 2022, Gabriel was born. Austin and Valerie didn't think they could conceive, but one day, they got to rejoice and give thanks because Valerie was, incredibly, pregnant. Gabe was their miracle baby. The family truly got a fresh start and a bright future, with all praise to Jesus, until yesterday.

Gabriel's care is expensive. With the financial devastation that came with losing their home in the hurricane, the family needs our help. I will immediately send whatever we collect to Austin. Please help baby Gabriel!