Gigi and her family need help

I set-up this Go Fund Me account for my granddaughter Genevieve “Gigi” and her mother Blair. Blair is a single mother of three children ages 9, 6 and 3 1/2. Blair is a preschool teacher and was planning to return to work after 3 1/2 years at home taking care of the youngest child Gigi who has a congenital heart defect called hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). HLHS is half of a functioning heart. Gigi's medical problems were too serious to attend daycare so her mother could work and most of her first three years of life were during the COVID pandemic.

Before the 1970’s there was little hope for babies born with HLHS. In the 1980’s a sequence of three open heart surgeries were developed that change the anatomy of the child’s heart providing a good circulation that gives the organs including the brain what is needed to live a good life. The surgeries are usually completed in the first 3 to 4 years of the child’s life.

On September 5, 2023 Gigi had her third open heart surgery called the Fontan. The procedure was successful. Over the years Gigi developed well in-spite of her many operations and her life threatening heart condition. On Monday October 9th Gigi was to start preschool at the Catherine Hershey Early Learning Center and her mother Blair was going back to work as a preschool teacher.

On Saturday October 7, 2023 Gigi came down with a common childhood virus that went straight to her brain causing significant inflammation in both hemispheres of her cerebellum. She spent 2 1/2 week in the PICU. Gigi lost all motor skills including the ability to sit, walk, hold objects, eat and talk but retained her comprehension and sweet personality. In the past week Gigi regained her ability to sit, hold objects and eat. She uses single words but it is very difficult to understand her expressive communication. Gigi can stand when being held for a moment but can’t stand alone or walk. She now needs to return to intensive PT, OT and Speech therapy multiple times a week. Her mother is unable to return to work until Gigi can attend preschool. Sadly their savings are depleted and they have no income.

Please consider donating to help this family meet their financial needs especially the resources needed to travel to therapy appointments, special equipment, and basic needs.