My name is Shannon Cressel and I have started this GoFundMe to help support the Gordon family with an upcoming surgery for their daughter, Alyssa. I first met Angie and Jason through FRMFL. They are very active with our youth in Warren County. They Volunteer with the Front Royal Midget Football league as a Coach, Team Mom and are board members. They also dedicate their time to the Warren County High School Athletic Association as board members and volunteers.

Their 14-year-old daughter, Alyssa, has been battling medical issues since 2020. Alyssa had a viral infection in January of 2020 and later that month had walking Pneumonia. Alyssa’s team of specialists believe Alyssa had COVID before it was officially announced as being in the US in March of 2020.

Alyssa is a very active member of the Warren County High School Cheer team. She has cheered since the 6th grade while in Middle School. Joining WCHS Sideline and Competition teams as an 8th grade Middle School Student. She is now a Freshman at WCHS and is on the Varsity sideline and Competition Teams as a flyer. She is learning new skills every day despite her medical conditions and dealing with constant nausea, dizziness and pain.

After many tests and what seemed like a life time, they finally found answers. In April of 2022 Alyssa was seen by a Cardiologist at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. She was diagnosed with Hyperadrenergic Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (Hyperadrenergic POTS). Alyssa’s body cannot properly regulate her blood flow which causes her to have dizzy spells, nausea, headaches, changes in her heart rate and blood pressure, weak feeling and pre syncope. She was put on medication and advised to increase her fluid intake as well as her salt intake. Her Cardiologist still continued to hear and see symptoms that were not POTS. The Cardiologist advised them in June of 2023 that had it not been for Alyssa being so active with cheer, she would be passing out daily from her POTS episodes. Thankfully she has never passed out, though she has come close. Studies have shown an uptick in POTS patients after having had COVID.

In June of 2023, after many more tests at Children’s, Alyssa was diagnosed with Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS). MALS is a rare syndrome that many people are born with (they now know that Alyssa was) and the symptoms do not show up until later in life, usually adolescence.

Alyssa’s Celiac Artery is compressed which causes her pain, most frequently when she eats. 1 in every 100,000 people have MALS most usually do not know they have it. Many MALS patients also have POTS. MALS is on the rare disease registry.

In 2023 alone, Alyssa has undergone about 11 different rounds of tests and procedures to obtain her MALS diagnosis. This does not include the many tests she endured between 2020 and 2022 when she was diagnosed with POTS.

Alyssa will require surgery to correct her Celiac Artery compression. This is a major abdominal surgery. Her surgery is scheduled for March 20, 2024 in Stamford Connecticut with a highly renowned specialist for open MALS surgery. Dr. Richard Hsu does about 4-5 of these surgeries each week. His technique has a very high success rate and many of his patients come away symptom free and can return to a normal way of life.

The Gordon’s will be in Stamford from March 18th through April 6th for pre op, surgery and post op appointments. Alyssa will be in the hospital for surgery about 5-7 days. Jason and Angie will be allowed to stay in the hospital with her during her stay as she will be on the pediatric floor of the Stamford hospital. However, they will require 2 nights of lodging prior to the surgery and about 7-10 days of lodging post-surgery until Alyssa is cleared to return home to Virginia. Post op lodging will need to be free of stairs for Alyssa’s recovery, which limits their options. Though they are hoping to find something that also has a kitchen and laundry.

Upon their return home, Alyssa may not be cleared just yet to return to school. She will be on homebound/virtual learning during her surgery and recovery. When they return to VA, Alyssa very well may need Physical Therapy to help her strengthen her core.

Angie has just learned that while she will be approved for FMLA (unpaid leave), she will not be approved for Short Term Disability, Which means that she will be on leave without pay during the time of Alyssa’s surgery and recovery (about 4 weeks). This will put a huge financial strain on the family. Jason only has 10 working days of leave he is allowed to take, and will need a one way ticket home before Angie and Alyssa are able to return home.

I have started this fundraiser to help the Gordon family during this time. This trip, while very much needed for Alyssa, will put a big strain financially on the family. The family will need lodging expenses, food expenses, fuel expenses, travel expenses among their normal monthly household expenses during this time.

The Gordon’s are not a family to ask for help. They are the first to step up and volunteer or to help a family in need if it is within their means. They are always looking out for the youth in our community whether it means giving them a ride to/from practice, game or ensuring the child has eaten. They spend countless hours working with both the Front Royal Midget Football League and Warren County Highschool games, organizing team meals, coaching or being team mom. I am asking on their behalf for the community to help them in their time of need.

Thank you for taking the time to hear their story and share this page with your family and friends. Any funds raised with this fundraiser will be used for Alyssa’s surgery, medical bills and to keep their household running until they can return to work.