Gabrielle’s Continued Fight

I was 18 years old when we almost lost my sister Gabrielle. She was 13 and seemed to have been very sick with the flu for months, but also having severe stomach pains most of the year. Her doctor had waved away all the symptoms and stated they were puberty, emotions, or just a need for attention. Later that year, when we brought her into the ER, her blood sugar was over 900 and she nearly went into a coma. She had Type 1 Diabetes.

We were lucky to still have her, but the road forward was anything but smooth for Gabrielle. In addition to being diabetic, she dealt with these other health diagnosis:

Age 12 - Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - this causes irregular menstrual periods. Some periods may not happen months apart and some periods can last for several weeks. This also affects her sugar levels, and has put Gabrielle in the E.R. with Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) many times. It threatened her life at one point.

Age 21 - Acid Reflux

Age 24 - Brittle Diabetes - This is a more severe form of diabetes, with unstable swings in blood sugar, which leads to more damages to the body over time, including her kidneys.

Age 24 - PolyNeuropathy - Gabrielle experiences severe leg pain in the middle of the night and can no longer feel temperature in her legs.

Age 26 - Diabetic macular edema - This is a swelling in the eyes due to excess liquid created by eye vessels. The only treatment is for Gabrielle to receive injections into her eyes every 6 weeks for the rest of her life.

Age 27 - Gastroparesis - This is a disorder that slows or stops the movement of food from your stomach to your small intestine. Because of this it becomes very hard to time when food sugars will affect Gabrielle’s body.

Age 31 - High Blood Pressure - This was found out to be because of her low kidney functions.

Age 32 - Kidney Damage - Gabrielle has been leaking proteins from her kidneys for the past 2 years in truth. In January 2021, her kidneys were functioning at 60%. However, due to regulation, a doctor cannot recommend a patient to a nephrologist, until only only 40% of kidney function remains.

I often say that my Gabrielle’s life has been one big rebellion. At age 8 she was diagnosed with an Auditory Process Disorder, ADD, Dyscalculia, and Reading Dyslexia. All of this together makes it difficult for her to process information quickly. Due to this, middle school teachers told her she wouldn’t graduate high school. In high school, they attempted to push her into remedial classes for students with severe learning and mental disabilities and only give her a “certificate of attendance.” Not only did she graduate high school, but she also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work. When she was in her early 20’s, a doctor told her she wouldn’t live to 30 with her health issues. She is 32 now and living the best life she can while dealing with her health complications.

With your help, I want to keep her rebelling and healthy for years to come. We are at the next life hurdle now, and that is a Kidney and Pancreas transplant. Gabrielle needs these life-saving organs because of the damage diabetes has done.

Your donations will go to all of the following so that she can receive these needed organs:

Medical costs

Medication for a year

Immunizations needed before surgery

Lodging ( sister and mother must stay at a hotel near the hospital for 30 days, as required by the Mayo Clinic)

Food

Gas

Wages lost for the month

There will most likely be more medical costs added in over time, but this should generate the bulk amount of everything for us to be able to move forward with the transplants.

My intent from describing all of the history above isn’t to paint you a bleak picture of a person’s life. Gabrielle is astonishing. She still stays so strong in spite of everything. She uses her degree in Social Work to give back to the world and help others. She is wonderfully goofy, warm, and playful, and I think this is why she is still the favorite aunt to her niece and nephew (despite everyones best efforts).

Her love of art comes out in many forms, including drawing, sculpting, sewing, and cosplay. She is an avid animal lover, and always has had a dog in her life (currently her two loves are a pair of Frenchies named Wilbert and Henry).

If Gabrielle can receive these necessary transplants, her ability to live and thrive will grow so much. She won’t just be tied to her locale and depend on family support. She gets to be her own person. She would love to move and try living in new parts of the country. Plus, she wants to see the world too, to leave the U.S. once and be able to travel.

Truly, she would get a functioning life like anyone else, and I hope you can help us bring that hope to her.

Christopher Shields

#kidneeds