On May 13, 2025, Gabbi Byrd’s world changed forever. At just 37 years old, she suffered the second of two strokes caused by a blood clot and advanced heart failure. She was rushed to the hospital, where doctors discovered she needed a life-sustaining LVAD (left ventricular assist device called the Heartmate III) surgery to survive.

Only four days later, on May 17, 2025, while still in the ICU, Gabbi received devastating news: she had been laid off from her job—losing her income and health insurance at the exact moment she needed both most.

After 56 long days in the hospital, separated from her husband and young son, Gabbi was finally discharged on July 8, 2025. She came home with new hope, but also with enormous challenges: ongoing medical bills, weekly appointments, and the daily reality of living with a heart device that requires constant power to keep her alive.

Today, the Byrd family urgently needs help covering:

Every donation—no matter the size—provides immediate relief and security for Gabbi, her husband Byrd, and their son Jaxon. Please consider giving and sharing her story to help this family rebuild.

Gabbi Byrd's friends and family have joined together to start this fundraiser on her behalf. Gabbi is one of our best friends, she's our sister, our cousin, and one of the most caring and loving individuals we know. We feel lucky to still have her in our life and want to do everything possible to ensure she has the resources she now desperately needs to heal and recover from a near-fatal health emergency that led to a complex and life-altering open-heart surgery.

Learn more about Gabbi's story below and please consider blessing her family with a donation.

Gabbi's Story

For months, Gabbi struggled with exhaustion, shortness of breath, and the inability to walk long distances. During countless visits to the doctor, she was told the same thing: she was suffering from pneumonia and then…bronchitis. But after months of antibiotics and other failed combinations of medications, none of Gabbi’s symptoms faded—in fact, they only got worse.

We now know what the doctors had missed—they'd somehow overlooked the clear signs that Gabbi’s heart was failing.

Much of this was confirmed on May 13th, the day Gabbi’s world turned upside down. Gabbi called an ambulance after feeling a strange feeling in her chest and noticing her face drooping in the mirror. Upon arrival, paramedics all but confirmed she was having a stroke and rushed her to the hospital, where she was forced to wait in the emergency room lobby for hours. As she sat there, untreated and afraid, Gabbi suffered a seizure. Only then did doctors rush her back for care, where more tests confirmed the truth: not only had she suffered a stroke, but she also had a blood clot in her heart and was in advanced stage heart failure.

After hearing her story, a family friend in the medical field told us that she didn’t know how Gabbi had survived as long as she had without treatment.

On May 17th, mere days after being admitted to the cardiac care ICU at Novant, Gabbi received more devastating news from her employer. She was laid off from her job while lying in her hospital bed. And at the very moment she needed health insurance and steady income the most, both were snatched away from her.

Shortly thereafter, Gabbi was transferred to Sanger Heart at Atrium Health, where she was told her only chances of survival were a heart transplant or a Heartmate III LVAD (left ventricular assist device). After understanding more about her options, and learning that she was not a good candidate for a full transplant, Gabbi bravely chose the LVAD surgery, a procedure that thankfully is working to keep her alive, but will alter how she and her family navigate through life forever.

In addition to the physical toll that the surgeries and medications have taken on Gabbi, she has also endured an emotional toll that some of us can only imagine. She’s spent 56 long days in the hospital, under the constant watch of doctors and nurses, separated from both her husband and young son, Jaxon. She’s lost her ability to do some of the simplest tasks, is working to regain some cognitive functions, and has dropped 70 lbs, largely due to her inability to keep food down during the early days of her time in the hospital.

Her husband Byrd has selflessly done everything he could to hold their world together, visiting her daily, bringing her simple comforts, and speaking words of encouragement to her, all while caring for Jaxon and taking over all household expenses.

The Road Ahead

On July 8th Gabbi was finally released and reunited with her family.

Though she is finally home, Gabbi’s journey is far from over. She now has multiple doctor’s appointments every week and has begun cardiac rehab three times a week. Jaxon continues his occupational therapy, and Byrd must return to work to make ends meet during Gabbi’s recovery and while she is out of work. Doctors are still monitoring her antibodies to determine whether she may one day need a heart transplant—or if, by God’s grace, her heart will recover enough for her to live without the LVAD.

Financially, the family is in crisis. The Byrds are struggling under the crushing weight of medical bills, prescriptions, groceries, rent, gas, and utilities. The precarious nature of their finances are already becoming evident. For example, Gabbi’s life-sustaining LVAD is powered by batteries that must be changed twice a day and requires constant access to electricity. If her home were to lose power, her life would be at risk. Not long ago, she nearly faced utility shutoffs—not only during one of the hottest weeks of summer, but at a time when electricity is literally the only thing keeping her heart beating.

That means the smallest setback—a late bill, a car repair, or a power outage—could have devastating consequences.

And yet, Gabbi’s faith and spirits remain strong. She is determined to heal, to fight, and to be present for her family. But she knows she cannot do this alone.

How You Can Help

Your donation will go directly toward:

• Medications and ongoing medical bills

• Groceries, rent, and utilities to keep the family stable

• Gas for countless doctor and therapy appointments

• Daily living expenses as they recover from this life-altering crisis

Every gift—big or small—helps lighten the enormous burden on the Byrd family. Just as Gabbi made the choice to fight for her life, we can make the choice to fight alongside her. Please consider donating and sharing her story to surround her with the love and support she needs.

Thank you for being part of her healing journey.

A Note from Gabbi

“I still don’t fully understand why I’m here after everything my body has been through—but I do know it’s for a reason. These past months have been the hardest of my life. I miss the days when I could simply breathe, walk, and play with my son without worrying about wires, batteries, or appointments. But I also know God isn’t done with me yet.

I’m so grateful to be alive, to be home with my family, and to have a chance at recovery. I can’t do this alone, though. I need my family, my friends, and my community more than ever. If you are able to give, to pray, or even just to share this page, please know it means the world to me. Thank you for helping me take the next step in this journey.”

– With love and gratitude,

Gabbi Byrd