Hello All,

I am making this GoFundMe page for my son, Chris, who is a single dad raising three boys. His eldest son, Gabriel, was admitted into pediatric intensive care at Erlanger Children’s Hospital in Chattanooga on November 1.

Gabriel is a special needs child that requires in home nursing. He was born with an extremely rare genetic disorder called CFC Syndrome (Cardiofaciocutaneous Syndrome). Additionally, he has also been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (a rare and severe epilepsy disorder).

Gabriel is non-verbal, wheelchair bound, is fed through a feeding tube, and wears diapers. He has mental delay and multiple physical health issues (brain, heart, digestive, urological) that affect him systematically. He just turned 16 (Nov. 5th), but developmentally, he’s still at the infant stage.

When Gabriel was admitted to intensive care on Nov. 1st he had sepsis, a severe UTI and kidney infection, his kidneys were failing, dehydration, low hemoglobin and hematocrit, and all of his electrolytes were out of balance, as well as heart and breathing problems. As of today (Nov. 22nd), he is stable but is still running a fever, his heart has stopped 5 times, he has had 2 blood transfusions, he has both bladder and rectal catheters, he has had an insane amount of lab tests, CAT scans on all organs, multiple EEGs, EKGs, MRIs, lung and bone marrow biopsies, and more… they still cannot tell us what is making him sick! We are waiting on additional test results to come back, and we have no idea when he will get better and be able to go home.

The mental, emotional, and financial strain is severe. I am hoping to collect enough money to support my son for two months so he can be at the hospital full time with his son and not have to work and worry about bills.

This goal covers expenses already paid this month, as well as upcoming living and travel expenses for the next two months:

• Rent and utilities ($4,000)

• Groceries and eating at the hospital ($1,500)

• Gas ($600) traveling locally to and from hospital 1 to 2 times a day.

Based on the latest test results that are due in the next 3-5 days, it will be determined if Gabriel will need to be transferred to a specialty hospital out of town. If so, there will be additional travel expenses that are unknown at this time.

Additionally, I am hoping to raise enough money to give Gabriel and his two brothers, Xayden and Cian, a good Christmas. They too have been affected by Gabriel being in the hospital. Xayden and Cian have been staying at their mother’s house the last two weeks while my son has been either at the hospital or work.

If you are unable to give monetarily, please take a moment of your time to forward to friends, family, social media, anyone who may be willing and able to help meet this need.

If the goal amount is surpassed, any additional monies will be designated to a savings account to save for a wheelchair accessible van so that Chris will no longer have to lift Gabriel into his car seat since he is getting so big.

All prayers are greatly appreciated. I will keep you all posted on Gabriel’s progress.

Sincerely, thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Katherine