Help Gabriel Fight Cancer!

Our nephew Gabriel is fighting what no child should have to- the fight against cancer.

 

Gabriel is 16 years old, a high school junior who should be learning to drive, hanging with friends and listening to terrible teenage music. Instead he has spent much of the last several months as an inpatient at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

 

This journey began with intermittent leg pain. When his mother Rose took him to an Urgent Care visit, X-rays were taken. Things rapidly progressed within one week- from casual Urgent Care visit, to meeting with Oncologists and Orthopedic surgeons who were definite in stating the scariest words to any mother- “it’s cancer”

 

CHOP has given swift and extensive care due to the diagnosis of Osteosarcoma. Since August, Gabriel has endured inpatient chemo, extra visits for terrible side effects, blood transfusions, biopsies, a feeding tube.. the list goes on. Rose has been with Gabriel for every step, and they live at CHOP together most days of the week. Constant testing and meetings for Gabriel has removed all normality from the family’s lives. A tumor removal surgery was performed 10/27, leaving Gabriel with a knee replacement at sixteen years old.

 

While Rose is in the hospital with her eldest son, Gabriel’s brother Rowan is being cared for by his Grandmother Kelly, Aunt Maria and Uncle Jim, and Uncle Steven and Aunt Lauren. Virtual school is new to everyone, but we are getting by!

 

Everyone seems to be “doing ok”, if such a thing can be said. Gabriel is fighting through all the symptoms as best he can with the brave assistance of Rose, who is at his side night and day. Rowan is a happy kid who bounces around with his duffel bag and tablet, but somehow always forgets his school bag. This temporary new normal is being handled by everyone with grace and patience, but support is needed.

 

Rose has been unable to work since this diagnosis, due to the truly godawful nature of Osteosarcoma treatment and side effects and surgery. She has exhausted almost all sick and vacation time at work, and is far from returning.

 

While treatment is going according to everyone’s hopes, additional testing and inpatient chemo stays will stretch well into 2022. 

Her job has been supportive, but Rose will soon need more assistance to keep the fight going without additional monetary stress. She needs our help. Our hope is to raise enough money for Rose to be able to cover her typical bills for the next six months, as that is the anticipated length of treatment. 

 

We humbly ask that you consider donating to Gabriel’s Fight, or sharing this story with others. Any amount would be greatly appreciated and put to immediate use as the family continues to fight and endure and conquer Osteosarcoma.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,

 

The Trauger Family

For updates, please check out Gabriel’s Journey on Facebook for updates from Rose and the rest of the family.
https://facebook.com/groups/1397534840628994/?ref=group_browse