Donate to help Debra Matalon-Gandia

In February 2023, Dr. Antonio Gandia and his wife, Debra Gandia, traveled to an annual medical conference in Las Vegas with family friends. What was supposed to be a relaxing work-related trip suddenly became a medical nightmare on March 1, 2023 when Debra fell critically ill and was rushed to the ICU. Debra developed septic shock from a severe urinary tract infection due to a kidney stone. It progressed to acute renal failure, liver failure, and heart failure.

After 2 days in the ICU at Valley Hospital Medical Center in Las Vegas, she was finally stable enough to be transported via medevac to Baptist Hospital in Miami, where she has spent almost a month fighting for her life. During this time, she also developed a rare complication called purpura fulminans, which caused her hands and feet to have no blood supply from vascular and arterial clots in her forearms and legs, leading to necrosis and requiring amputation of all four extremities.

Throughout her hospital stay she required almost 20 blood transfusions, dialysis, endoscopic repair of a bleeding ulcer, anticoagulant therapy to help dissolve the clots and discontinuation of the medication when she developed heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

Despite all of these complications, Debra remained strong. On March 31, 2023; she underwent bilateral below the knee and below the elbow amputations of her four extremities. She is currently slowly recovering in the ICU at this time. This life-changing event requires significant physical and emotional support, as well as extensive rehabilitation.

We are starting this GoFundMe campaign to help support Dr. Antonio Gandia, Debra, and their family during this difficult time. The Gandia family has dedicated their life to helping others as a family of medical professionals, and we want to show them support and how much we appreciate them by providing them with the resources she needs to recover and live her life to the fullest. The funds raised will go towards covering medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and any necessary home modifications to accommodate Debra’s new lifestyle.

Debra has been an athlete her entire life. She’s a former karate champion and bodybuilder, and she’s an avid equestrian.

Please consider donating to Debra’s campaign and help us show her how much we care. Every little bit helps, and together we can make a difference in her life. Thank you for your support.