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Fundraiser for the Gavrielides Family

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This is a fundraiser for the Gavrielides family to help Mike and Stephanie pay medical bills and any other expenses as they stay by their baby Penelope's side and help with her fight to live!

 

On October 4, 2012, Penelope Louise Gavrielides was born by emergency C-section at ARMC at only 25 weeks.  "Pene" weighed a mere 13.7 ounces and measured at 10.75 inches long, one of the smallest babies some of the nurses had ever seen.  She was transferred to the NICU at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta on October 10 where she had surgery to close a hole in her heart.   The doctors there have been working diligently to insure that her kidney and pulmonary functions remain stable, but, sadly, yesterday Penelope took a turn for the worse and the doctors are not optimistic about her chances of survival.  She is experiencing severe systemic capillary leakage and she is swollen all over and leaking plasma.  Her kidneys are overwhelmed, her chest X-Ray reveals fluid in the lungs and she has had to be partially paralyzed to stop her from trying to breathe against the ventilator.  Nonetheless, the Gavrielides family, friends, co-workers and extended family continue to have hope and we ask for prayers and healing thoughts for Baby Pene.  Photos of this little one and her story are here: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/penelopegavrielides/mystory

 

Penelope's Dad Mike (UGA BA 2000) is a former UGA staff member and her Mom, Stephanie (UGA BS 2001) is employed with the UGA Office Animal Care & Use.  They have been by Pene's side every day and could really use some help, especially since under current UGA policy, Stephanie is not eligible for the Shared Leave Program. (Shared Leave can only be used if the employee has a "critical and life-threatening" condition or experiences a major surgery, and the following recovery period. Shared leave cannot be used if an employee's family member is the one with a critical and life-threatening condition, etc.).

 We are asking for 2 specific kinds of help for the family:

1.       Financial donations of any kind would be greatly appreciated.
This unfortunate situation has caused an undue financial burden on the family. 
All funds will go directly to the family.

2.       Give BLOOD next week here on Campus.
Because of all the blood transfusions NICU babies receives, Mike and Stephanie ask that everyone who is able to please consider donating blood this holiday season.  A blood drive in honor of Penelope will be held at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education, Room VW, on December 19, 2012 from 12:00pm until 5:00pm.  Please consider giving blood this holiday season so that everyone in need can enjoy the gift of life.  Everyone who gives will receive free Chick-Fil-A coupons and have the opportunity to win a free massage from Lotus Sun Therapeutics.

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Donations 

  • Anonymous
    • $25 
    • 11 yrs
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Organizer

Jeanne Cochran
Organizer
Athens, GA

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