Emergency Funds for Gopal Family

This fundraiser is in support of the Gopal family, who covets your prayers for their sweet little boy Penn.

 

Penn (1 1/2 years old) woke up early Wednesday morning in extreme pain. After a visit to the pediatric ER, Penn was transferred to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital where he underwent an emergency exploratory surgery. The surgery found that 75% of his large intestine and 25% of his small intestine had died due to a twisted bowel complication from a birth defect (gastroschisis).

 

After removal of these intestines on Wednesday, Penn was transferred via life flight Thursday morning to Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Florida. Penn was assessed by their specialist surgical team and immediately prepared for another surgery on Thursday evening. In Thursday's surgery, the remainder of the large intestine had to be removed. 195 cm of small bowel remained, and the doctors did not seem hopeful the remaining part of the small bowel would stay healthy (about 80% of the remainder did not look healthy). Life without a small bowel is unsurvivable.

 

After a day of rest, Penn went into surgery again Saturday morning at 8am. His surgeon found that his intestines looked to be improving and only has concerns on about 10% of his remaining bowel at this time. Stitches were added, and much of the intestine has not been reattached at this time, hoping for additional healing to come. His body continues to amaze - he is off blood pressure medication at this time and they are steadily decreasing other medication. While we are so grateful for these answers to prayer, Penn is not out of the woods yet and has a long journey ahead of him. Should Penn start to go downhill again, it could be catastrophic. Please continue to pray.

 

Penn remains intubated and open in the Pediatric ICU to rest for further surgeries (they expect 2-3 additional surgeries before the true recovery process begins). We will update this page as we can with his healing journey. We appreciate your support of the Gopal family (Catherine, Kartik, and big brother Graham) as they navigate Penn's remaining surgeries, this next month away from home in Tallahassee, as well as adjust to a "new normal" for Penn's life. The best case scenario is Penn will have short gut syndrome, an ostomy, or potentially a long term feeding tube. Penn is fighting for his life through each of these surgeries. 

 

If you have ever met Penn, you know he is the smiliest, happiest baby. His smile, curls, infectious giggle, and beautiful brown eyes are hard to forget. He loves the water more than anything. He's brave, active, and wants to do everything big brother does (and more). We are praying hard to see him healed and so grateful for the team at Shands Hospital! Thank you for being here and reading little Penn's story, and for your prayers. They are being heard, and we are so hopeful.

 

We love you so much, Penn! Fight hard.

 
These funds will be used to help relieve stress from the Gopal family while being away from home for a month with Penn in the PICU, emergency medical expenses and meals, and flexibility for Penn’s mom Catherine to stay home to help with his care for several months. The family has also been made aware that long term home healthcare may be needed.